(Press Release), Washington, D.C., November 21, 2013 – The American Pizza Community (APC), a coalition representing pizza-related enterprises large and small across all 50 states, today endorsed bipartisan Senate legislation to allow pizza stores to provide accurate nutritional information to customers in a common-sense manner.
The Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2013 (S.1756), introduced today by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Angus King (I-ME), makes much needed changes to the menu labeling requirements on restaurants for which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently finalizing regulations. As drafted, these regulations threaten to negatively impact the pizza industry. This Senate bill follows the introduction of a companion bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives (H.R. 1249) by Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA-46).
“We would like to thank Senator Blunt and Senator King for their support of adding common sense into menu labeling regulations and relief for small business. This bill is an important step in making some needed changes to FDA’s burdensome proposed menu labeling regulations, adding important flexibility and reasonable solutions for small business pizza store owners nationwide,” said Lynn Liddle, Chair of the APC and Executive Vice President of Communications, Legislative Affairs and Investor Relations for APC member Domino’s Pizza.
The Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2013 would modify the existing menu-labeling statute such that:
- Pizza delivery stores and other restaurants that rely on orders that are primarily remotely placed – such as over the phone or online – could comply with the law using an online or other remote display of calorie counts. The draft FDA regulations would require an in-store menu board, which would not capture the full variety of millions of menu options, could cost up to approximately $5,000 per store, per year and might only reach 10 percent of customers.
- Multi-serving menu items could be labeled by individual serving. Pizza, for example, could be labeled by the slice rather than the whole pie, in keeping with consumer preferences.
- Variable food items, such as pizza, could use a variety of means, including ranges, averages, individual component labeling of ingredients or labeling of standard menu offerings, rather than conform to a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Restaurants would be held to a reasonable standard in labeling.
The Office of Management and Budget found menu labeling to be the third most burdensome rulemaking of 2010 with respect to the entire economy. There are more than 70,000 pizza stores throughout the United States. If implemented, FDA’s draft menu-labeling regulations would inflict onerous burdens on these stores, threatening to limit job creation and the other positive economic impacts of the pizza industry without improving consumers’ access to convenient and accurate nutritional information.
About The American Pizza Community
The American Pizza Community is a coalition of the nation’s largest pizza companies, small business franchise owners, regional chains, suppliers and other entities that make up the American pizza industry. The coalition was formed to advocate for policies affecting pizza companies and operators of all sizes and to protect the integrity of the product. Issues include reasonable menu labeling information, fair wages and labor policies, tax reform and commodity policies. With millions of pizza combinations available to suit the variety of tastes of consumers nationwide, pizza can be a part of a healthy diet.
Current APC members include: Blackjack Pizza, Breadeaux Pizza, CiCi's Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Figaro’s Pizza, Godfather’s Pizza, Hungry Howie’s, the International Pizza Hut Franchise Holders Association, Little Caesars, Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza, Papa John’s Pizza, Papa Murphy’s, Papa’s Pizza To-Go, Papa Romano’s, Pizza Factory, Pizza Schmizza, Sam & Louie’s Pizza and Two Boots. Supplier partners include Coca-Cola, Leprino Foods, the National Pork Producers Council, Paradise Tomato Kitchens, PepsiCo, SUTUS and Tyson. Please visit the APC website at: www.americanpizzacommunity.com.
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