Health Department

Proposed Menu Labeling Regulation

Metro Board of Health Considers Proposed Menu Labeling Regulation
Public Hearing Set for November 6 at Lentz Health Center

NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 5, 2008 -- The Metropolitan Board of Health will consider menu labeling regulations proposed by the Metro Public Health Department as one step to fight an obesity epidemic in Nashville where nearly 6 in 10 adults are overweight or obese, and nearly 30 percent of Nashville’s youth are overweight or obese. The proposed regulations would apply only to restaurants with 15 or more outlets nationwide. The Board has scheduled a public hearing to hear comment on the proposed regulation on November 6 at 4 p.m. The public hearing will take place at the Lentz Health Center auditorium, located at 311 23rd Avenue North in Nashville.

"Obesity is on the increase in Nashville,” said Bill Paul, M.D., Director of Health for Nashville and Davidson County. This leads to increases in hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Medical costs for treating all this keep rising, and people are dying prematurely.”

One reason for the increase in overweight and obesity is consuming more calories than we expend. “Eating at a restaurant is for many an everyday event,” Paul said. “Most people underestimate the calories they take in when they are eating out. Some main dishes may contain 1600 calories. That’s about three quarters of the calories most adults should eat in a whole day."

Examples of calories in restaurant foods

  • A McDonald's Grilled Chicken Sub (530 calories) has more calories than a McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese (510) calories.
  • A Wendy's Chicken Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Filet (490 calories) has more calories than a Wendy's 1/4 Pound Single Hamburger ( 430 calories) .
  • A Burger King Whopper (760 calories), Medium Fries (360 calories) and large Classic Coke (290 calories) totals 1,410 calories, nearly 3/4 of the calories (2,000) that an average adult should have in one day.
  • A McDonald's Mighty Kid's Meal of six chicken nuggets, small fries, and an 8-ounce low fat milk is 610 calories.
“Menu labeling is not a magic bullet. It is only one measure to help people trying to eat healthier and lead more active lives, but it will allow families to make an informed decision when choosing what they eat,” Dr. Paul said. “Just 100 extra calories per day, over the course of a year, leads to a ten-pound gain in weight,” Paul said.

Dr. Paul has hosted three sessions at the Lentz Health Center to provide information and take questions from restaurant industry members.

The Metropolitan Charter gives the Board of Health authority, after public hearing, to adopt reasonable rules and regulations as necessary for the protection of the health of the people.

The Board of Health will allow written comment about the proposed regulation to be submitted by December 8, 2008. Those who would like to submit written comment should send it to the following:

Dr. Bill Paul, Director of Health
311 23rd Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203

or e-mail

directorofhealth@nashville.gov

The Health Department’s food inspectors would conduct compliance checks as part of their routine food inspections during the year.

If adopted Nashville would be the first city in the Southeast to adopt such regulations. The proposed regulations are similar to regulations, ordinances, and laws currently in effect in Seattle, New York City, and in California.