Health
VICTORIA - Enjoying a meal out at a restaurant can be a fun and enjoyable way for families to spend time together.
Now the B.C. restaurant industry is partnering with the Province to provide restaurant customers with the information they need to make the healthy choice the easy choice.
The $1.9-million Healthy Families BC - Informed Dining program will give customers the information they need to make healthier choices when eating out. Participating restaurants will add the Informed Dining program logo and a statement on their menu or menu board, letting customers know that nutrition information for all standard menu items is available upon request. Restaurants will provide nutrition information (similar to what is currently found on packaged foods) before or at the point of ordering in the restaurant. Information may be provided on a brochure, a menu insert or poster.
Calorie and sodium content will be highlighted, and restaurants must also include information on daily sodium and calorie requirements. Customers will then be able to make informed choices when choosing meals for themselves or their children.
It is estimated that Canadians currently purchase one in ten meals or snacks from a restaurant. By providing nutrition information in restaurants, customers can make decisions that will help to promote healthy weights and prevent high blood pressure and chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
The Informed Dining program is a component of the Province's Healthy Families BC (www.HealthyFamiliesBC.ca) campaign to reduce obesity and prevent chronic disease. It has been developed in collaboration with the Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association, the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon, chain and independent restaurant leaders and public health partners. Although voluntary for private retail food services, the program will be mandated in food service establishments in health-care facilities.
The Province has been working with the restaurant industry for several years to help protect the health of British Columbians. In 2009, B.C. was the first jurisdiction in Canada to regulate the use of trans fat in restaurants and food service establishments.
Quick Facts:
- According to the BCRFA, there are about 12,000 restaurants in British Columbia.
- Nutrition labelling of pre-packaged food is already regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
- Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer are estimated to cost our health-care system between $730 million and $830 million per year.
- Reducing sodium intake could prevent up to 23,500 cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke per year, and could generate direct savings of $1.38 billion annually.
- The Canadian Council of Food and Nutrition reported that in 2006, of all the money spent on food in Canada, 40 per cent is spent in food service outlets.
- People who eat more sodium than needed are at greater risk from high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for stroke, heart disease and kidney disease.
- British Columbians consume more than double the amount of sodium considered adequate to promote good health in B.C., as recommended by Health Canada.
- Nutrition information disclosure in restaurants and food services is one of the key recommendations from the Sodium Working Group report, Sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada report, Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights.
A backgrounder follows.
Contact:
Ministry of Health
250 952-1889 (media line)
BACKGROUNDER
Healthy Families BC - Informed Dining
The Healthy Families BC-Informed Dining program is designed to promote restaurants that have committed to provide customers with nutrition information for all of its standard menu items. It has been created in collaboration with the restaurant and food service industry and public health stakeholders.
All restaurants in B.C. are eligible to participate in the voluntary program. The program will be mandatory for food service establishments in health-care facilities. The Province encourages restaurant owners and managers to join in the fight to prevent obesity and chronic diseases by providing this important nutritional information to their customers.
To participate in the program, restaurants must meet the following criteria:
- Restaurants must disclose nutrition information for all standard menu items. Calorie and sodium content must be highlighted.
- Restaurants must include the Informed Dining logo and directional statement that is prominently displayed on the menu or menu board indicating that nutrition information is available.
For example: (Name of restaurant) proudly offers nutrition information to help guests make informed choices. Please see our menu insert for more information. - Restaurants must include information regarding daily calorie and sodium requirements.
Participating restaurants will display the Informed Dining program name and logo on their menus and marketing materials to promote their participation in the program and to encourage customers to ask for nutritional information.
Provincial environmental health officers will be monitoring for compliance in restaurants as part of their regular food safety inspections.
The Province will provide support to participating restaurants with marketing and promotional efforts through the Healthy Families BC website and other media opportunities.
Contact:
Ministry of Health
250 952-1889 (media line)
