Law requires chain food service establishments with 15 or more locations to post calorie count values for standard food items on menus and menu boards, consistent with federal law requirements. It creates a local enforcement process and outlines penalties.
Refers to menu labeling as showing "great promise" in promoting better health; leading to healthier fast food consumption; reducing obesity and other serious medical conditions. § 533.01.
Legislative findings section states: "The County Board of Legislators finds that requiring chain food service establishments to post calorie count values for standard food items on menus and menu boards continues to show great promise towards promoting better health for Westchester County residents. Some early studies have shown that such calorie labeling might lead to healthier fast food consumption which can lead to a reduction in obesity and other serious medical conditions. The County Board of Legislators believes that the Westchester County Department of Health's enforcement of a local law that requires such calorie labeling is a necessary and appropriate means of ensuring that this important nutritional information is made available to consumers. " §533.01. Findings section also includes statements about the scope of the menu labeling provisions in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
"The purpose of this chapter is to adopt the identical chain food service establishment calorie labeling requirements as are set forth in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, so that such requirements may be enforced by the Westchester County Department of Health." § 533.01.
§ 533.02.
"The Commissioner of the Department shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this chapter which shall be identical to federal regulation." § 533.03.
Violators could be assessed a civil penalty of up to $1,000/day. § 533.04.
Part IV (Other Local Laws, Acts and Resolutions); Chapter 533 (Calorie Labeling of Standard Menu Items by Chain Food Service Establishments). Ordinances: L.L. No. 10-2010, § 2.