MPP's bill mandates calorie counts on restaurant menus

Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas has introduced a private member's bill in the legislature which would require some restaurants to disclose the calories for the foods and drinks they serve.

The restaurant chains subject to the bill would have to have more than five locations, and bring in a gross annual revenue of more than $5 million.
 
“Healthy eating starts with knowing the calorie content of your food,” Gélinas said.
 
“Having a provincial calorie labelling standard will educate and empower consumers to make healthy choices and curb the obesity epidemic.”
 
If the Healthy Decisions for Healthy Eating Act is passed, Ontario would become the first province to legislate calorie labelling on menus and follow the example of more than two dozen American jurisdictions that already have, or soon will have, similar laws.
 
In 2008, New York City became the first jurisdiction to implement calorie labelling. Earlier this year, the Obama administration mandated calorie labelling for large chain restaurants as part of its health care reform legislation.
 
“This is not a political or controversial plan – it is simply one tool, of the many we need, to support Ontarians in living the healthiest life possible,” noted Gélinas.
 
“The majority of experts in the field agree that this is a necessary step for promoting healthy eating and I sincerely hope the McGuinty government will listen to these experts.”
 
"The Heart and Stroke Foundation first called for improved nutritional labeling at food service premises back in 2004 with our Report on Canadians’ Health, Fat is the New Tobacco. The call for improved nutrition labeling was renewed through the February 2009 release of the Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan,” Dr. Marco Di Buono, director of research for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, said in a press release.
 
“By requiring food service premises to display calorie information on menu and display boards, The Healthy Decisions for Healthy Eating Act will help Ontarians win the battle for heart health by empowering them to take charge of the amount of calories they consume.”