The Informed Dining program is growing in the province and across the country as 19 national restaurant chains representing over 10,000 restaurant outlets in Canada now provide valuable nutrition information for their dining customers.

Top restaurant chains such as McDonald’s, Tim Hortons, Subway and Starbucks are joining public institutions, health-care facilities and independent restaurants in B.C. to provide full, nutrition information to help British Columbians make informed choices when dining out. This brings the number of Informed Dining restaurant outlets in B.C. to over 2,000 - an increase of over 1,700 outlets since May, 2012.

“Informed Dining is a trend that is catching on in B.C. and it makes sense that others across Canada adopt the program as well,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “By working with our partners in the restaurant industry and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, this program is providing customers with valuable nutrition information that helps them make informed choices about the food they eat.”

Informed Dining is a voluntary program that includes calorie and sodium information prominently highlighted for all standard menu items. The program also includes information on daily calorie and sodium requirements and helps provide context for customers who want to understand how a menu item fits into their daily needs.

“We are proud to be part of a program that offers a framework to help customers make informed food choices when they are eating out,” said Mark von Schellwitz, vice-president, Western Canada, Restaurants Canada. “This is part of building a relationship with our customers and providing the full nutrition information they crave.”

“One of the key goals of Heart and Stroke Foundation is to significantly reduce the risk factors for heart disease and stroke for Canadians,” said Gavin Arthur, vice-president, research and health promotion, Heart and Stroke Foundation (BC & Yukon). “Eating a well-balanced healthy diet is a key component of lowering these risk factors. There is a growing public demand for nutrition information when eating out and this is creating a real opportunity for restaurants, an opportunity they can seize by joining the Informed Dining program.”

“Small business operators in B.C. appreciate the value this program brings to our customers,” said Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of BC Restaurant and Food Services Association. “British Columbians are demanding more information about their food choices and Informed Dining makes that information easily available.”

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

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

BACKGROUNDER

Informed Dining - Participating restaurants

With the participation of 19 national chains, the Informed Dining logo and nutrition information is now in more than 2,000 restaurant outlets in B.C. and 10,000 restaurant outlets nationally. This is an increase of 1,700 outlets in B.C. since May, 2012.

The restaurant chains currently implemented:

• A&W
• ABC Country Restaurant
• Booster Juice
• Boston Pizza International
• Harvey’s (CARA Operations Ltd.)
• Montana’s (CARA Operations Ltd.)
• Swiss Chalet (CARA Operations Ltd.)
• Dairy Queen Canada Inc.
• De Dutch
• Earl's Restaurants
• Keg Restaurants Ltd.
• Little Caesars
• McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Ltd.
• Pizza Pizza
• Quiznos Canada Restaurant Corp
• Starbucks
• Subway
• Tim Horton's
• White Spot Restaurants

Look for Informed Dining coming soon to:

• Extreme Brandz (MTY Group)
• Milestones

Other participating restaurants:

• The Swiftsure Restaurant & Lounge
• The Boathouse
• The Reef
• El Taco
• Mountain Eagle Books
• Thai Away Restaurants Ltd.
• HAVE Café
• Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub
• Mink A Chocolate Cafe
• Smokehouse Kitchen Restaurant
• Burgoo Bistro
• Baristas Coffee Corp
• Pluto's Restaurant
• Fuse Pan Asian Express
• Pearl Fever Tea House
• Soy Asian Fusion
• Fiamo Italian Kitchen
• Suburban Spoon
• Sweet Home Café
• Deacons Corner
• Small Ritual Coffee Society
• Mongolie Grill
• Hoja Mongolie Grill
• Fuse Café
• Aphrodites Organic Café and Pie Shop
• Biblio Café - University of Victoria
• Macs - University of Victoria
• Arts Place - University of Victoria
• Caps Bistro - University of Victoria
• Commons Dining Room - University of Victoria
• Village Greens - University of Victoria
• Good Earth - Royal Jubilee Hospital

Check back regularly at: www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/informed-dining

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)