US introduces menu calorie labeling to fight obesity

美國對抗肥胖新政 菜單標明卡路里

U.S. introduces menu calorie labeling to fight obesity

The US government will publish sweeping new rules on Tuesday requiring chain restaurants and large vending machine operators to disclose calorie counts on menus to make people more aware of the risks of obesity posed by fatty, sugary foods.

美國政府于25日出臺一項食品行業新規定,要求連鎖餐館和大型自動售貨機商家在菜單中標明食物所含的卡路里,以提醒人們高脂高糖食物會帶來肥胖的風險.

"Obesity is a national epidemic that affects millions of Americans," Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg told reporters on a conference call on Monday.

"肥胖已成為一項全國通病,影響了數百萬美國人,"美國國家食品和藥物管理局（Food and Drug Administration）專員瑪格利特·漢伯格（Margaret Hamburg）在24日的電話會議上告訴記者.

"Strikingly, Americans eat and drink about a third of their calories away from home."

"美國人攝入的卡路里中有約三分之一來自于在外就餐,這很令人驚訝."

The FDA's new rules, which are part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, set a national standard for restaurant chains with 20 or more outlets.

食品和藥物管理局出臺的這項新規定是2010年美國平價醫療法案(Affordable Care Act)的一部分,適用于全美范圍內擁有20家及以上連鎖店的餐廳.

Under the rules, calories must be displayed on all menus and menu boards. Other nutritional information - including calories from fat, cholesterol, sugars and protein - must be made available in writing upon request.

它規定所有的菜單和菜單板上必須標明卡路里數.其他營養成分的信息如脂肪、膽固醇、糖類和蛋白質所含的卡路里信息,如有要求,也必須能夠以書面形式提供.

The new calorie rule covers meals at sit-down restaurants, take-out food, bakery items, ice cream from an ice-cream store and pizza, which will be labeled by the slice and whole pie. Seasonal menu items, such as a Thanksgiving dinner, daily specials and standard condiments will be exempt.