Healthy Menu Choices Act
Information about calories in food and drink is now available on menus in some businesses . Who must post calories
As part of the Healthy Menu Choices Act , all food-service chains with 20 or more locations in Ontario must now post the number of calories in the food and drink items they sell . This includes : u food-service chains u cafeterias open to the public
Where you ’ ll see calories posted This means you ’ ll see the number of calories posted at places such as : u fast-food restaurants u restaurants u coffee shops u bakeries u grocery stores u movie theatres
The number of calories will appear on menus such as : u the menu a server gives you when you sit down u menu boards u tags or labels when food and drinks are on display u on signs near where you , as a customer , get food or drinks for yourself ( e . g . buffet )
What menus tell you
The menu will provide the number of calories you get from each of the standard food or drink items that are sold . In the case of menus , you ’ ll find this information directly below , beside or above the name or
Want more info ? Learn about the Healthy Menu Choices Act here
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price of each standard food item on the menu .
A standard food item refers to both food and drinks . It ’ s an item that is : u sold in a standard or regular size u served , processed and / or prepared in a regulated location e . g . fast-food or dine-in restaurant , grocery store u meant to be eaten / drank right away , with no further preparation by the customer e . g . coffee shops , bakeries , fast-food and dine-in restaurants
Statements about daily calorie needs
As of January 1 , 2017 , businesses must also post one of the following statements on their menus : u Adults and youth ( ages 13 and older ) need an average of 2,000 calories a day , and children ( ages 4 to 12 ) need an average of 1,500 calories a day . However , individual needs vary . u The average adult requires approximately 2,000 to 2,400 calories per day . However , individual calorie needs may vary .
As of January 1 , 2018 , businesses covered by the new rules must post the following statement : u Adults and youth ( ages 13 and older ) need an average of 2,000 calories a day , and children ( ages 4 to 12 ) need an average of 1,500 calories a day . However , individual needs vary .
Healthy Menu Choices Act Under the new law , which came into force on January 1 , 2017 , the Province of Ontario set out rules about how to display calorie information on menus . Those rules deal with things such as the exact size and placement of the text .
They also define the role of inspectors and how the rules are enforced .
Inspectors from local public health units will visit all businesses that must follow the law .
After that , public health units will respond to any complaints about a business not following the law . This could lead to education , a warning and then a fine if they continue not to follow the law .
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February 2017 - The HUB 7