Monkeyleg
Member.
Just as the BATF can decide on its own what constitutes "sporting purposes," other federal agencies can make up their own rules as they go along without congressional approval. This one strikes me as completely dumb. How can a restaurant determine the number of calories in a dish that's prepared by hand? How would pizzarias calculate extra toppings? How would they handle an order with pepperoni on just 1/2 of the pizza? Grrrrrr.
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THE FOOD AND Drug Administration said Thursday that labeling menus is among several proposals it is considering to help people watch what they eat.
_ _ _ _Food companies already are required to put nutrition information on the backs of food packages, and nutrition advocates have been pressuring the government and the industry to impose similar requirements on the restaurant industry.
_ _ _ _The FDA also may change its requirements for nutrition labels on food sold in grocery stores and other outlets.
_ _ _ _Joseph Levitt, vice chairman of an FDA committee studying obesity, said FDA officials are meeting with the restaurant industry, food processors and consumer groups to figure out whether it should issue new regulations or just write guidelines suggesting changes to help consumers improve their eating habits.
_ _ _ _“It’s not precisely clear at FDA what our role should be,†he said.
_ _ _ _Allison Whitesides, director of legislative affairs for the National Restaurant Association, said the industry group opposes mandatory labels on menus. It would be especially cumbersome for restaurants that serve different meals each day, she said.
_ _ _ _“We’re not a box, we’re not a can,†Whitesides said. “Cooking is an art. It’s not an exact science.â€
_ _ _ _But, she said, the industry might consider a voluntary program. She noted some fast-food chains, including McDonald’s, already display calorie information in their stores or on their Web sites.
_ _ _ _The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regards fat as a leading health problem, estimating that 15 percent of children and 65 percent of all adults are overweight. A recent spate of lawsuits has food companies and restaurants fearful they may be blamed for it.
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THE FOOD AND Drug Administration said Thursday that labeling menus is among several proposals it is considering to help people watch what they eat.
_ _ _ _Food companies already are required to put nutrition information on the backs of food packages, and nutrition advocates have been pressuring the government and the industry to impose similar requirements on the restaurant industry.
_ _ _ _The FDA also may change its requirements for nutrition labels on food sold in grocery stores and other outlets.
_ _ _ _Joseph Levitt, vice chairman of an FDA committee studying obesity, said FDA officials are meeting with the restaurant industry, food processors and consumer groups to figure out whether it should issue new regulations or just write guidelines suggesting changes to help consumers improve their eating habits.
_ _ _ _“It’s not precisely clear at FDA what our role should be,†he said.
_ _ _ _Allison Whitesides, director of legislative affairs for the National Restaurant Association, said the industry group opposes mandatory labels on menus. It would be especially cumbersome for restaurants that serve different meals each day, she said.
_ _ _ _“We’re not a box, we’re not a can,†Whitesides said. “Cooking is an art. It’s not an exact science.â€
_ _ _ _But, she said, the industry might consider a voluntary program. She noted some fast-food chains, including McDonald’s, already display calorie information in their stores or on their Web sites.
_ _ _ _The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regards fat as a leading health problem, estimating that 15 percent of children and 65 percent of all adults are overweight. A recent spate of lawsuits has food companies and restaurants fearful they may be blamed for it.
(I havent, but heard about it on TV) Or one of those desert pizzas at Cici's. Absolute decadence right there.