For Owners
Customers are "Looking for the Lightbulb" to know at which of their favorite restaurants they can find nutrition information.
Menu labeling is the posting of calorie content of foods on menus and menu boards. Additional nutrition information like sodium, fat and cholesterol is also made available upon request.
What restaurant owners should know about menu labeling:
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Federal law mandates labeling of menu items for large chain restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide.
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Consumers are more interested than ever in the nutrition content of the food that they eat when away from home.
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Menu labeling can give restaurants the opportunity to learn more about the foods they serve and adjust recipes to meet consumer demand.
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Small restaurants are not impacted by the federal law, but many are interested in menu labeling to meet the demands of customers and to stay current with trends.
Participating in menu labeling
- Locally owned and operated restaurants in the Reno/Sparks area can receive free recipe analysis and guidance on menu labeling from program staff.
- Restaurants will receive recognition in various media outlets such as TV, print, radio and/or on the GetHealthyWashoe.com website.
Steps to menu labeling
- Determine menu items to be analyzed. Begin by selecting which items are to be analyzed first.
- Provide our staff with recipes using a guide outlining what information is needed. Recipe forms will be supplied that are easy to fill out. List the menu item, serving size, quantity and ingredients.
- Make calorie and nutrition information available. Update menus and menu boards to include the calorie count of menu items. Work with program staff to make other nutritional information (fat, sodium, cholesterol, etc) available upon request.
- Consider changes. Staff can suggest changes for adjusting recipes for improved nutrition.
- Menu labeling confidentiality policy. The menu labeling program maintains a strict confidentiality policy. Information (including recipes) collected in the process of determining nutritional content of menu items will not be shared with outside parties.
For more information contact Kelli Seals at kseals@washoecounty.us.
