TORONTO — Thanks to new calorie-posting legislation, Ontario chain restaurant owners with 20 or more locations will be required to post nutritional information on their menu boards by 2017, in keeping with an announcement last year about proposed changes.
According to the Making Healthier Choices Act, which also tightened rules around e-cigarettes, foodservice operators who sell ready-to-eat and prepared food must post calorie information on standard food-and-beverage items, including alcohol, on menus and menu boards.
“This piece of legislation puts Ontario in a leadership position when it comes to helping lower smoking rates and fight obesity by eating better. The passing of the Making Healthier Choices Act will protect Ontarians from the dangers of second-hand smoke and protect our youth from tobacco products and e-cigarettes. It will also help families make healthier choices when eating out,” said Dipika Damerla, associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
Operators can face hefty fines if they don’t comply, starting with $500 per day for a first offence, or, in the case of a corporation, $5,000 per day for a first offence.
