1. A Necessity on Restaurant Menus
Nutrition Labeling
A Necessity on Restaurant Menus
Greetings, Restaurant Owners of America. Welcome to the presentation of Nutrition Labeling: A Necessity on Restaurant Menus. I am Donna Watson, a Walden University Student, in pursuit of a Master’s in Public Health.
Donna Watson, MPH
Walden University Student
PUBH
July 19, 2009

2. Purpose … ‘to inform’…
Restaurant Owners of the importance of nutritional labeling
Healthy Choices leads to better health
Eating Out and health concerns
Positive Effects of Nutritional Labeling
Policy and Law Changes
Additional Information Resources
Restaurant Owners, the purpose of this presentation is to inform you of a necessary change to your menus. This request is for your menus to contain nutritional labeling of your food choices. Nutritional labeling is important for the customers to make healthy choices that will lead in the right direction to better health. I will inform you of the concern with eating out and obesity-related factors. I wish to inform you of the positive effects to both you and the customer if this change is made. And, any additional sources of information that can help in your decision to promote this much needed change.

3. Healthy Choices … Better Health
Obesity is a growing epidemic in the USA (Hwang & Lorenzen, 2008)
Effects 30% of Adults and 12% of school-aged children
More than 300,000 die from obesity/year
More than $100 billion spent on diet related diseases
Primary contributor ~ eating out (The Nat’l Restaurant Assoc, 2006; AARP, 2004)
48% of food dollars spent on outside eating
Potential restaurant growth ~ potential solution
AARP.org, (2004). Nutrition labeling at fast-food and other chain restaurants. July Accessed on July 15, 2009 from
Hwang, J. & Lorenzen, C. (2008). Effective nutrition labeling of restaurant menu and pricing of healthy menu. Blackwell Publishing Journal of Foodservice, 19, Accessed on July 15, 2009 from
The National Restaurant Association. (2006). Restaurant Industry Fact Sheet. Accessed on July 15, 2009 from
The USA is facing a growing obesity epidemic. About 30% of adults and 12% of school-age children are considered obese. Every year, more than 300,000 Americans die from obesity-related diseases and conditions, such as heart diseases, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. The National Restaurant Association has implied that one of the primary contributors to obesity is eating out. Due to our changing society and the rush factor, approximately, 48% of food dollars are spent away from home. It is my quest to ask you, Restaurant Owner, if you can assist in turning those food dollars into healthy menu choices. It has been stated that the restaurant industry has a potential growth rate of 3%. Your growth can be a potential solution to this problem. Many of you have already added healthy options to your menu choices. However, many customers need help in selecting these choices by being able to readily identify the nutritional values on the menu.

4. Positive Effects … Nutritional Labeling on the Menu Increases Revenue
Beneficial to the Restaurateurs and the Customer (Hwong & Lorenzen, 2008)
Enhances customer confidence
Improves customer’s image of source of information
Increases Revenue
Perception of a greater value
Willing to pay
Hwang, J. & Lorenzen, C. (2008). Effective nutrition labeling of restaurant menu and pricing of healthy menu. Blackwell Publishing Journal of Foodservice, 19, Accessed on July 15, 2009 from
Adding nutritional labeling on your menu will have positive effects. Informing the customer of information pertaining to the caloric intake, fat content, cholesterol, dietary fibers and other nutrients, will allow them a more conscience effort in eating healthy outside of the home. The customer’s confidence will be enhanced and the image of the source of information, will improve, as well. The benefits to the Restaurateurs are that the customer’s happiness will increase your revenues. Eating healthy is an increasing concern for many Americans today. However, cooking at home is a factor that is decreasing due to time and loss desires. If one could associate the fact that your menu will provide them with nutritional information on food choices, eating out will potentially increase. This change will provide the perception of a greater value that many will be willing to pay for.

5. Policy and Law Issues …
The Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act of 2009 (National Restaurant Association, 2009)
Leader ~ National Restaurant Association
Requires a uniform nutritional labeling standard
Provides a reasonable range of flexibility
Set of guidelines in nutrition calculating
Provides legal protection
The National Restaurant Association (2009). Public policy issue briefs. Accessed on July 15, 2009 from
The Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act of 2009 was introduced on March 10, 2009 and will be lead by the National Restaurant Association. It will require uniform national nutrition labeling standards for chain foodservice establishments with 20 or more units. The labeling standard will require that nutritional information, which includes the caloric intake, sodium, fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates and protein, be provided on restaurant menus. This law would provide restaurant chains with a range of flexibility and set guidelines in how the information should be calculated. Legal protection will also be provided for those restaurants that abide by the law.

6. In Conclusion … Nutrition labeling on the menu, will -
Promote healthy menu choices
Decrease the prevalence of obesity-related issues
Enhance confidence and credibility of sources
Increase revenue
Abide by the law
In conclusion, Restaurant Owners, the addition of nutrition labeling on your menu, will be a greater benefit to both you and your customers. Obesity is a great concern and your help is needed to reduce the risk. Your menus will promote healthy choices by allowing the customer to make a conscience choice in selecting healthy items. Confidence will be enhanced in your establishment and the credibility of the source of information will be increased. Customers finding that they can eat out and still maintain a healthy diet for both them and their family, will increase your revenue. Customers will be more willing to pay for the convenience of having healthy choices away from home. Also, adding the labeling will help you to abide by the law, have assistance in calculating the nutritional value and be legally protected.

7. Additional Resources …
For more research and information:
The American Dietetic Association,
Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI),
The Coalition for Response Nutrition Information (CRNI),
For labeling assistance:
Anresco Laboratories,
Consolidated Label Company,
I have provided some additional resources that may also be of interest to you: The American Dietetic Association, the CSPI and the CRNI. I hope that this information was helpful in your decision towards change that will help many This concludes my presentation to you. Thanks for your attention. Have a great day.

8. Reference List
AARP.org, (2004). Nutrition labeling at fast-food and other chain restaurants. July Accessed on July 15, 2009 from
Hwang, J. & Lorenzen, C. (2008). Effective nutrition labeling of restaurant menu and pricing of healthy menu. Blackwell Publishing Journal of Foodservice, 19, Accessed on July 15, 2009 from
The National Restaurant Association. (2006). Restaurant Industry Fact Sheet. Accessed on July 15, 2009 from