[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 41 (Monday, March 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE ``LABELING EDUCATION AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2009''

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                           HON. JIM MATHESON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 9, 2009

  Mr. MATHESON. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague 
Rep. Fred Upton to introduce the ``Labeling Education and Nutrition Act 
of 2009''.
  I am introducing this legislation so we can move toward providing 
consumers with key nutritional information they seek while hopefully 
providing restaurants with a workable framework to deliver this 
information to their customers. This legislation is a bipartisan effort 
to address nutritional labeling in this Congress. Senators Carper and 
Murkowski will introduce the companion bill in the coming days. With 
the introduction of the LEAN Act in both chambers, I believe we have an 
opportunity to have a constructive national conversation about uniform 
nutrition labeling requirements and standards.
  Since 1994, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) has 
required food manufacturers to provide nutrition information on nearly 
all packaged foods. However, the NLEA exempts restaurants. Due to this 
exemption, states, cities and counties have acted to provide 
nutritional information to consumers. This has led to at least 20 
states introducing varying degrees of labeling requirement legislation 
in 2009.
  From New York City to the state of California, more and more cities, 
counties, and states are passing differing laws mandating that chain 
restaurants put calories and other nutritional information on menus and 
menu boards. The result of this increasing state activity is a 
patchwork of regulation that can be confusing to the consumer and is 
burdensome to restaurant chains.
  The LEAN Act requires restaurants and grocery stores that serve 
prepared foods and have 20 or more locations to disclose calories for 
each menu item so that consumers can access this information before 
making a meal choice. Under this bill, calories will be posted directly 
on the menu, menu board or in one of the approved alternative ways, 
such as a menu insert or a sign directly next to the menu board.
  As we see in our own lives and daily eating habits, consumers 
increasingly choose to eat in restaurants. According to a 2009 Forecast 
report by the National Restaurant Association, Americans are looking 
for healthier options when they dine out. In my home state of Utah, 
restaurant jobs represent about 8% of the employment. American adults 
buy a meal or a snack from a restaurant 5 times per week on average and 
spend 48% of their food budget on food away from home, almost $1078 per 
person annually. Unfortunately, we have also seen the toll diseases 
such as obesity and diabetes have taken on society. By providing 
nutritional information, individuals with special dietary needs will be 
able to make the right nutritional decisions for them regarding caloric 
intake or sodium levels.
  I appreciate the interest and leadership my colleagues have 
demonstrated on this issue in the past. I believe this legislation 
represents a compromise effort that will allow consumers to make 
informed decisions while also providing for greater individual 
responsibility in dietary choices. Finally, I hope my colleagues will 
work with me on this piece of legislation and I look forward to working 
in a bipartisan way to build upon this legislative proposal.

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