DeLauro Celebrates Implementation of Menu Labeling Rule

WASHINGTON, DC (May 7, 2018) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today issued the following statement celebrating the implementation of the menu labeling rule that she and former Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) worked to include in the Affordable Care Act. The rule ensures that consumers are provided with nutritional information on the foods they purchase away from home, which make up about a third of most Americans' diets.

"One of my proudest moments serving the people of Connecticut and our nation was getting common sense menu labeling included in the Affordable Care Act. The changes going into effect today give Americans the tools they need to make healthy choices. With rates of obesity and diabetes at crisis levels across the country, consumers deserve to know how many calories are in the food they are buying. After eight years of delays, industry pushback, and lawsuits, this pro-consumer policy is long-overdue."

Experts agree that caloric disclosure is one of the toughest tools to combat America's obesity epidemic, and recent research has shown that menu labeling is effective. A study by RAND Corporation demonstrated that, when calories are labeled, people choose options with fewer calories without impacting their view on the restaurant.

DeLauro serves as Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for funding the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and is a senior Democrat on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

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