Nutritional Information at Restaurants Act of 2003
Bill 15-0387

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A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Councilmember Phil Mendelson introduced the following bill, which was referred to the Committee on Human Services.

To require restaurants which are part of a chain having 10 or more locations nationally, regardless of the type of ownership, to provide nutritional information for all food and drink items sold. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Nutritional Information at Restaurants Act of 2003".  

Sec. 2. (a) A restaurant or similar retail food establishment which is identified with a chain having 10 or more locations nationally, regardless of the type of ownership, shall provide nutritional information for all food and drink items sold, including but not limited to the total number of:  

(1) calories; 

(2) grams of saturated fat plus trans fat;  

(3) grams of carbohydrates; and  

(4) milligrams of sodium 

per serving, as usually prepared and offered for sale. 

(b)(1) Chain restaurants which use a standard menu shall provide such information next to each item on the menu in a size and typeface similar to other information about each menu item. 

(2) Chain restaurants which use menu boards may limit the nutritional information to the total number of calories per serving per item in a size and typeface similar to other information about the item; provided, that additional information in writing shall be available to customers upon request. 

(3) For the purposes of this act "similar retail food establishment" means convenience stores, bakeries, cookie counters, ice cream shops, vending machines and vendors offering food from kiosks, lunch wagons, and sidewalk carts. 

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.  

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code § 1-233(c)(3)). 

Sec. 4. Effective date. 

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.