[vendtalk] FDA Seeks Public Input On Vending Menu-Labeling Rules

[Vandervoort's Vending]

The following news release is from "Ahead of the Times"
=====

FDA Seeks Public Input On Vending Menu-Labeling Rules

SILVER SPRING, MD -- The Food and Drug Administration is inviting the public
to submit comments to guide it in drafting the regulations needed to
implement a new federal law requiring display of calorie content and other
nutrition information in chain restaurants and on vending machines. 
Section 4205 of the Affordable Care Act, signed into law March 23, 2010,
requires restaurants and retail food establishments that are part of a chain
with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information on menus and
menu boards. It also requires vending operators who own 20 or more machines
to disclose the calorie contents of the items they sell. 
The FDA is required by law to issue proposed regulations to carry out the
provisions by March 23, 2011. 

Prior to the new law, federal law required nutrition labeling on many
packaged foods, and some state and local governments mandated such labeling
by restaurants under their jurisdictions. 

The FDA is inviting members of the food industry, state and local
governments, consumers and other interested parties to offer comments and
suggestions about menu labeling in docket No. FDA-2010-N-0298 at
regulations.gov. The docket, which officially opened for comments on July 7,
will remain open for 60 days. 

To submit comments electronically, choose "submit a comment" from the top
task bar, enter docket No. FDA-2010-N-0298 in the keyword space and select
"search." 

Comments can be submitted by mail to: The Division of Dockets Management,
HFA-305, Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061,
Rockville, MD 20852.