NYC Menu Compliance Laws

New menu compliance laws in New York as well as in other communities are moving towards requiring restaurants to disclose calories and other food information on their menus. This can be a huge inconvenience to food service operators. Figuring out the best way to comply can be difficult. Below is some specific information regarding the NYC menu compliance laws.


Does the NYC Menu Compliance Law Apply to me?
The new menu law compliance requirements apply to Food Service Establishments (FSEs) that:
* Are required to hold a NYC DOHMH FSE permit.
* Serve food with standardized preparation, portion sizes and content.
* Operate under common ownership or control that includes 15 or more FSEs.

When will the requirement be enforced?
The requirement became effective on March 31st, 2008, although enforcement was delayed due to litigation. Health department officials said they would not impose any fines until Friday, July 18, at 12:01 a.m., in order to give operators more time to comply.

What do I need to do to comply?
*Post calorie information on all menus, including menu boards and displays.
*Include calorie information on item tags - food items displayed for sale with food item tags.
*Post calorie information on menu boards at or prior to the point of ordering for drive through windows.

What happens if I don't comply?
*The Health Department may assess fines from $200 to $2,000.
*Violations will be posted on the Health Department's inspection website.


NOTE: This requirement does not apply to menu items that are listed on menus or menu boards for less than 30 days in a calendar year.


To download the NYC Menu Compliance guide from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, click here:

New York City (NYC) Menu Law Compliance Guide


Are you currently listing this information on your menus? Has compliance been difficult for your food service operation? Do you have any tips on methods for compliance?