WASHINGTON, April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association today released the following statement about the publication of proposed menu labeling regulations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The document provides details on how the federal government proposes the menu labeling provision, which passed into law in March 2010, should be implemented by the restaurant industry.

"The National Restaurant Association strongly supported and advocated for the law that will provide consumers with uniform and consistent nutrition information in hundreds of thousands of restaurant locations nationwide," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association.  "From Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine, the new standard will help chain restaurants provide the same type of nutrition information to consumers in any part of the country."

"The publication of the proposed regulations in the Federal Register today is the next step forward in providing the industry with consistent, national requirements on how to implement the new uniform nutrition information standard," said Sweeney.  "The National Restaurant Association anticipates there will be many questions and after full review of the proposal, will provide detailed comments to the FDA to ensure that restaurants are provided adequate time and are able to comply with the regulations effectively, as well as provide information to consumers in the most usable way."

There will be a 60-day public comment period for restaurants and the industry to provide feedback to the FDA.  

The law requires restaurants with twenty or more locations operating under the same brand name to provide calories on the menu and additional nutrition information upon request.  To implement this law, the Food and Drug Administration must provide detailed rules for restaurants on how to present calories on menus, menu boards and drive thru boards, as well as how to present and provide additional nutrition information to consumers.  

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 960,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of nearly 13 million employees. Together with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to lead America's restaurant industry into a new era of prosperity, prominence, and participation, enhancing the quality of life for all we serve. For more information, visit our Web site at www.restaurant.org.

SOURCE National Restaurant Association