Menu Labeling: As a Potential Strategy for Fighting the Obesity Epidemic

Abstract

The factors such as the socio-cultural changes that have occurred in the society and in the family structure and the increasing number of women in the working life in the last 50 years lead to an increase in the rate of the use of mass nutrition services. Because of the increase in the obesity prevalence in parallel with the increase in the use of mass nutrition services, a lot of public health institutions call attention to the contribution of the nutrients consumed out of home to the obesity. The studies state that the incorrect choice of nutrients by the individuals using the mass nutrient services mostly arises from the lack of knowledge. The idea of use of labeling on the menus for the nutrients consumed out of home might help to reduce the excessive energy intake have arisen considering that the excessive energy intake is the result of lack of knowledge and the regulation regarding the labeling the food served at the chain restaurants has been put into force. According to “Requirement for the Labeling of Menus in the Restaurants” included in Section 4205 of Law on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, prepared by Foods and Drug Agency (FDA) on 23 March 2010, information regarding the energy and nutrition in a standard menu served in the chain restaurants should be given on the menu cards and boards. While this regulation is a countrywide potential strategy in fighting against obesity in USA, we do not have such legislation in Turkey.