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Rules Committee advances city ordinance to require calorie labels at chain-restaurant menus
Summary
The Rules Committee forwarded to the full Board an ordinance that would require chain restaurants to display calories and additional nutrition information; the Department of Public Health defended a fee to fund program coordination and industry groups warned of state preemption and urged a uniform statewide approach.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Thursday advanced an ordinance that would require chain restaurants to display calories and other nutrition data on menu boards and food tags.
Supervisor Tom Lamiano introduced the item, saying the central question was a fee the Department of Public Health would assess on affected proprietors to fund implementation. "The principal issue up for discussion today is the fee that will be assessed by the Department of Public Health to be paid by the proprietors of establishments captured under the ordinance," Lamiano said.
Paula Jones, representing the Department of Public Health, told the committee the fee would cover a half-time health program coordinator to do outreach, develop a public-facing website with guidance, and handle limited inspections. "The fee would basically cover a half time position, a health program coordinator that would be responsible for monitoring the program," Jones said.
Industry representatives urged caution. A restaurant association speaker told the committee the local measure risked being preempted by state law and said chains favored a uniform statewide approach. The speaker noted support for a state bill by Assemblywoman Nicole Parra but opposed a version introduced by Sen. Padilla that had been vetoed previously.
Public-health advocates testified in favor. A representative of the American Heart Association thanked supervisors for "maintaining the integrity of your ordinance" and said the measure aligned with recently reintroduced state proposals.
The committee, after public comment and discussion, agreed to forward the measure to the full Board without a committee recommendation; it was scheduled for the March 11 board meeting. No committee vote on final passage occurred in Rules. The committee record shows the action as a referral for full-Board consideration rather than final approval.
Next steps: the full Board will consider the ordinance on March 11, and the Department of Public Health will be expected to provide the fee and implementation details during subsequent hearings.
