nenu Labeling requirements for restaurant and C-Store

The FDA published the final rule on menu labeling on December 2014, but the compliance date was May 7, 2018. Although 2018 was the official compliance date, the FDA spent the first year educating members before starting enforcement of the menu labeling law on May 7, 2019. Further, the Food and Drug Administration announced that January 1, 2024, will be the uniform compliance date for final food labeling regulations that are issued in calendar years 2021 and 2022. 

The FDA menu labeling guidance applies to any food service establishments operating in 20 or more locations. The menu labeling law concerns the following eateries selling or serving foods:

  • Restaurants
  • Grocery stores
  • Retail food outlet chains
  • Convenience stores
  • Cafeterias
  • Concession stands in entertainment venues

menu labeling requirements

Menu Labeling Law Requirements

The FDA menu labeling guidance requires these food establishments to print the calorie content of the standard menu items. In short, the menu labeling law aims to help consumers identify the calorie content of the food and beverages they are about to partake in at that food establishment.

The menu labeling law requires restaurants to print the calorie content in a font and font size similar to that of their menu items and prices. To fully comply with the menu labeling law, a food service business must provide additional written nutrition information upon request by a consumer. Further, the FDA menu labeling guidance dictates that the food establishments should display, on the menu or signs close by a statement that consumers should target 2,000 calories daily for their general nutrition, although their calorie needs may vary.

The FDA menu labeling law extends to the point-of-purchase, which affords access to the calorie content information to consumers who make their orders away from the food service business. By following the FDA menu labeling guidance, restaurant customers can contextualize the provided calorie information to their total daily diet and plan a healthy meal accordingly.

Partner with Dot It to Comply with the FDA Menu Labeling Guidance

Dot It will work with, or as an extension of, the marketing team to ensure your menus, menu boards, and POP comply with the menu labeling law. Dot It is an expert at large restaurant chain rollouts and can help you print, pack, and ship all the updated menus and nutritional documents to all of your store locations. Get a fast quote for your Marketing Materials.

Boost Your Marketing Campaign

With Dot It, you don’t just get a menu labeling printer; you sign up with a single-source partner. These are some of the benefits you’ll get by partnering with Dot It:

  • Menu labeling law-compliant labels
  • An improved restaurant marketing effort
  • Account support, consultation, and print expertise
  • eCommerce technology and branded web portals

Get Ready For the Compliance Date for Food Labeling Regulations 

The uniform compliance date for the final food labeling regulations released in calendar years 2021 and 2022 will be January 1, 2024.DateCodeGenie® automated labeling,  allows you to print law-compliant food nutrition labels for convenience stores’ grab-n-go food items. DateCodeGenie® enables you to print hundreds of food labels in no time adding ingredients, custom notes, nutrition facts, and allergens information.