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The Policy Of Menu Labeling

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Historically restaurants were exempt from nutrition labeling due to 1990s policy during the Bush Administration6. The policy of menu labeling emerged with growing concern over the obesity crisis and malnutrition in America. Currently more than one third of US adults are obese3. Obesity related conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers are the leading causes of preventable deaths in America3. President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010 with the provision of section 42059. Section 4205 was aimed at providing increased information about nutrition and calorie content to the public with the goal of helping consumers make informed and healthful dietary choices9. This section was originally due to be enacted in April 20139.

Section 4205 of the Affordable Care Act hones in on menu labeling in restaurant or similar establishment where there are twenty or more places doing business under the same name serving similar food, excluding schools or establishments that do not have a set location9. Ownership type is not considered7. Standard menu items must have calories listed adjacently with additional documentation of sugar, fat, protein, cholesterol and fiber that is available upon request7. Temporary items that are available for less than 90 consecutive days or less than 60 days throughout the year are not required to have labels7. Location definition excluded food trucks, airplanes and trains from having

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