House Members Seek to Undermine Calorie Labeling at Restaurants

Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo Wootan

November 3, 2015

Only in Washington would a bill to gut calorie labeling at restaurants and other food establishments be called the “Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act.” Consumers deserve to know how many calories are in the foods they purchase, not just at typical chain restaurants, but also at supermarkets and convenience stores, which increasingly sell restaurant-type foods, and right in restaurants in formats that are easy to find and use. In a country where one in eight Americans are eating pizza on a given day, the last sector we should exempt from in-store calorie labeling is the chain pizza industry.

Americans have waited patiently for calorie labeling rules, passed five years ago on the basis of a bipartisan compromise and with the support of the restaurant industry, to go into full effect. Calorie labeling won’t be a silver bullet. But having that one piece of nutrition information, in a standard format as a given menu item is offered for sale, will help Americans make the choices that are right for themselves and their families.