FDA Issues Final Guidance on Menu Labeling to Help Consumers Make Healthy Choices That Can Reduce Cancer Risk

05 May 2016 --- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced the final implementation date for menu labeling, requiring a variety of establishments to display calorie information for their ready-to-eat food and beverages starting in May 2017.

Cancer remains a major health problem in the US. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that nearly 60 percent of adults use calorie information on menus to decide what to order.
Therefore, this guidance focuses on guiding consumers on choosing nutritional options that can reduce cancer risk. The implementation date is set for May next year.

A statement from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) states: “Thanks to the final menu labeling rule issued by the FDA and the newly-released guidance on the implementation of the law, next year consumers will have more nutrition information than ever before at their fingertips when they purchase food and beverages from many of the nation’s chain restaurants, vending machines, convenience stores, supermarket cafes and other food establishments.”

“With 20 percent of all cancers tied to poor nutrition, physical inactivity and excess weight, it is critically important that consumers have access to calorie and other nutritional information when eating out to help them make informed choices about the foods they eat.”

“By making it easier for individuals to see which food and beverage options are the healthiest options on the menu, we can reduce a significant risk factor for cancer and other chronic diseases.”

The guidance requires establishments to display calorie information for their ready-to-eat foods and beverages (including alcoholic beverages which can provide a high source of calories). These include national chain restaurants and convenience stores, as well as amusement parks and movie theaters – venues that often offer very calorie-laden foods. Calorie information will now be available when Americans purchase snacks and drinks from most vending machines.

ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. They support evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority, and gives ordinary people the information to fight cancer with the training and tools they need.