The Informed Dining program continues to expand with 22 national restaurant chains representing more than 1,800 restaurant outlets signing up to provide customers in British Columbia with nutrition information for all of their standard menu items.

While enjoying a meal out at a restaurant can be a fun way for families to spend time together, it can also be difficult for families to make informed decisions about what they eat. With increased participation from national chains, British Columbia restaurant-goers soon will have greater access to comprehensive nutrition information before or at the point of ordering, similar to what people are familiar with on pre-packaged foods at the grocery store.

As part of the voluntary program, calorie and sodium information is prominently highlighted for all standard menu items, along with information on daily calorie and sodium requirements. This information will help provide context for customers to understand how a menu item fits into their daily needs.

Informed Dining, officially launched in May 2012, is the first nutrition information program of its kind in Canada.

As part of the Healthy Families BC strategy, Informed Dining was developed in collaboration with the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association, the Heart and Stroke Foundation (BC & Yukon), chain and independent restaurant leaders and public-health partners.

Quotes:

Minister of Health Margaret MacDiarmid -

"I believe that knowledge is power and that it is important to share information. It is exciting to see so many restaurants get on board and allow British Columbians to make informed decisions about what they are eating. I applaud the establishments that are committed to this program and I thank them for their support to help make the healthy choice the easy choice for British Columbians."

Mark von Schellwitz, vice-president, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association -

"Many of the new restaurant chains are looking forward to implementing the program across Canada. As an industry we want to provide our customers with the nutrition information they need and want. CRFA is proud to partner with the government of British Columbia. I commend those that are already participating in Informed Dining and encourage other restaurants to follow suit."

Gavin Arthur, vice president, research and health promotion, BC & Yukon, Heart and Stroke Foundation-

"We are pleased to see that more restaurants are committing to making nutrition information available to their customers through the Informed Dining Program. Balanced nutrition is a crucial element to preserve health and prevent cardiovascular disease. Continued enthusiasm and participation by the restaurant industry in this important government program is a positive step forward to helping British Columbians make informed choices when dining out."

Quick Facts:

• Currently, 14 independent restaurants, one British Columbia chain and three national chains are participating in the program.

• The first restaurant to participate was Swiftsure Restaurant and Lounge in Victoria

• Participating restaurants must display the Informed Dining program logo and directional statement on their menus and/or on or around their menu boards so customers know nutrition information is available before making a menu choice.

• Informed Dining is mandatory for all retail food service establishments in health-care facilities.

• The Healthy Families BC website offers interactive tools on sodium sense, shopping sense and sugary drink sense to help inform British Columbians about their daily sodium, sugar and calorie intake.

• Nutrition labelling of pre-packaged food is already regulated by Health Canada.

• 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 in Canada.

• 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.

• Canadians consume more than double the amount of sodium considered adequate to promote good health, as recommended by Health Canada.

A backgrounder follows.

Learn More:

Informed Dining / Healthy Families BC: www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/informed-dining

Media Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887

BACKGROUNDER

Informed Dining - participating restaurants

The additional 22 chains, representing more than 1,800 restaurant outlets, will have the Informed Dining logo and nutrition information available by the end of 2013. This will bring the total number of participating restaurant outlets in British Columbia to almost 2,100. The new chains represent more than 12,000 restaurant outlets in total throughout Canada. Check back regularly at: www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/informed-dining

Additional restaurant chains committed to participate are:

• ABC Country Restaurant, multiple outlets

• Booster Juice, multiple outlets

• Boston Pizza International, multiple outlets

• Cactus Club, multiple outlets

• Dairy Queen and Orange Julius, multiple outlets

• Earls Restaurants, multiple outlets

• Extreme Pita, multiple outlets

• Harvey's (Cara Operations Limited), multiple outlets

• Keg Restaurants, multiple outlets

• Kelsey's (Cara Operations Limited), multiple outlets

• McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited, multiple outlets

• Milestones Grill and Bar (Cara Operations Limited), multiple outlets

• Montana's Cookhouse (Cara Operations Limited), multiple outlets

• Pizza Hut, multiple outlets

• Quiznos Canada Restaurant Corporation, multiple outlets

• SUBWAY, multiple outlets

• Starbucks Coffee, multiple outlets

• Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill (Cara Operations Limited), multiple outlets

• Tim Hortons, multiple outlets

• Waves Coffee, multiple outlets

• Wendy's Restaurants of Canada, Inc., multiple outlets

• White Spot Restaurants, multiple outlets

Current participating restaurants are:

• A&W, multiple outlets

• Baristas Coffee Corp, Smithers

• Burgoo Bistro, multiple outlets

• De Dutch, multiple outlets

• El Taco, multiple outlets

• Fuse Pan Asian Express, Vancouver

• H.A.V.E. Cafe, Vancouver

• Joseph's Coffee House, Victoria

• Little Caesar's, multiple outlets

• Mink A Chocolate Café, multiple outlets

• Mountain Eagle Books, Smithers

• Pluto's Restaurant, Victoria

• Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub, Victoria

• Smokehouse Kitchen Restaurant, Prince George

• Thai Away Restaurants Ltd., Vancouver

• The Boathouse, multiple outlets

• The Swiftsure Restaurant and Lounge, Victoria

• The Reef, Victoria and Vancouver

Learn More:

Informed Dining / Healthy Families BC: www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/informed-dining

Media Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887