Strategic Alliance Applauds S.F.'s Menu Labeling

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors should be congratulated on their preliminary passing of an ordinance that will require certain restaurants to post nutrition information on menus and menu boards. The ordinance applies to all restaurants with 20 or more locations in California and is similar to SB 1420 that will go to the Health Committee March 26. The San Francisco Chronicle ran the article, S.F. supes require posting of nutrition info, which highlighted the importance of educating the public. The value of this ordinance goes beyond education. By making the unhealthy nature of many of these menu items more visible menu labeling policies are levers for motivating the fast food industry to offer healthier options.

As members of the Rapid Response Media Network, we encourage you to send in letters to the editor congratulating San Francisco for leading the state regarding this issue and encouraging a successful final vote and further support for the health of all Californians.

Your letters in support of this ordinance can reinforce the following points:

• Californians know menu labeling is good policy. San Francisco’s ordinance is exactly what Governor Schwarzenegger called for in his California Obesity Prevention Plan.
• Companies have a responsibility to share what they know about the food they sell. Health experts across the country say nutritional menu labeling will help prevent chronic disease.
• It is only fair that food companies tell their customers what they are eating. The Field Poll released on April 18, 2007, found that an overwhelming number of Californians can’t identify which menu items have the fewest calories, or the least salt, the most fat, or the most calories.
• Menu labeling is the right thing to do. The same Field Poll found that 84% of Californians think fast-food and chain restaurants should be required to post nutritional information on menus and menu boards.

Please click here to go to our website for examples of letters to the editor and guidelines for submissions at various papers.

Strategic Alliance’s Setting the Bar: Recommendations for Food and Beverage Industry Action also offers concrete actions for the food and beverage industry to support healthy diets.

We welcome you to share any letters or op-eds that get published with the rest of the Strategic Alliance membership by sending them to linnea@preventioninstitute.org





WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE?

The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity away from a focus on individual choice and lifestyle towards one of environment and corporate and government responsibility. Current Steering Committee members are: California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program (CANFit), California Center for Public Health Advocacy, California Food Policy Advocates, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, California Parks and Recreation Society, California Project LEAN, California WIC Association, Child Care Food Program Roundtable, Latino Health Access, Partnership for the Public's Health, Prevention Institute, Samuels & Associates and YMCA of the East Bay.

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

The Strategic Alliance is currently engaged in building a broad and diverse statewide membership. To join or for more information, please visit us on the Web, www.eatbettermovemore.org, or contact Linnea Ashley at 510.444.7738 or Linnea@preventioninstitute.org. And even if you're already a member, please forward this message on to your colleagues so we can continue to strengthen our coalition. Thank you!

The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity--from a focus on individual choice and lifestyle, towards one of environment and corporate and government responsibility.

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