HealthLink: Major restaurant chains respond to consumer demand for nutrition information
In February, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association announced the launch of a national voluntary program that will make it easier for consumers to make informed food choices when eating out. Participating restaurants will provide consumers with the calorie, fat, cholesterol, carbohydrate, protein and sodium content of standard menu items. Some restaurants may also opt to identify the top 10 allergens in their foods.
This program, modeled after Canada’s mandatory nutrition labelling program for packaged foods, aims to make nutrition information available in a consistent manner and to inform consumers that this information exists. Restaurants will present nutrition and allergen information in brochures at each of their locations and on their websites. Notices on menu boards or menus will let consumers know this information is available.
Twenty-four of Canada’s largest restaurant chains, representing some 9,000 outlets have agreed to provide detailed nutrition information by the end of this year. These restaurants represent about 40 percent of Canada’s restaurant chains and more are planning to join. The founding companies include:
A&W; Food Services of Canada Inc., Burger King Restaurants of Canada Inc., Casey's Bar & Grill, De Dutch Pannekoek House Restaurants Inc., East Side Mario's Restaurants, Fionn MacCool's, Harvey's, IKEA Canada, Jack Astor's Bar & Grill, Kelsey's Restaurants, KFC, Little Caesar of Canada Inc., Les Rotisseries St-Hubert Ltee., McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Ltd., Pizza Hut, Pizza Nova, Pizza Pizza Ltd., Shoeless Joe's Restaurants, Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill, Taco Bell, Tim Hortons Ltd., Van Houtte Inc., Wendy's Restaurants of Canada Inc., and White Spot Restaurants.
CONSUMER TIPS:
Many Canadian restaurant chains already offer detailed nutrition information and interactive nutrition calculators on their websites.
HealthLink is an e-mail newsletter from the team of registered dietitians at the Beef Information Centre: a non-profit organization committed to provide credible and timely information. Please share it with colleagues.
For a list of website links to online nutrition information and calculators visit the
Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association.
Food & Fitness Facts
Subscribe to HealthLink.