Your Favourite Restaurant Must Mention Calories On Its Menu. If Not, Might Have To Shut Down.

Did you know that it is mandatory for that? Restaurants and food stores list the calories in each dish Contains on their menu? For someone who regularly monitors their food intake, dining out can be a let-down, as restaurants fail to mention the number of calories a dish contains. At times, ingredients like nuts etc are also not mentioned which may be harmful for diners who are allergic. However, as per the rules and regulations, the eateries are obliged to mention these details for their customers not only on their physical menu but also on their digital ones.Also Read – Government hotels or restaurants bars by levying service charge in food bill Full guide here

In November 2020, India’s food regulatory authority, The Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI), issued labeling and display regulations, according to which it is mandatory for centrally licensed restaurants or outlets with 10 or more locations to mention the calorie value. of items displayed on their menu cards, boards or brochures (in kcal per serving and serving size). Also Read – The New Delhi Municipal Council has charged a license fee of Rs. 9,800 has been increased

On Friday, the regulator sent notices to at least 16 leading eateries, including some five-star hotels, for not complying with the latest labeling and display norms that mandate them to mention the calorie count of dishes on their menus. FSSAI has warned in its notice that restaurants that fail to comply will have to close shop. Restaurants were required to comply with these standards by January 1, 2022. Later the deadline was extended to July 1. Also Read – Service charges by restaurants are illegal, government says

However, restaurant operators said the exercise is a complicated one and may require more time to implement. “If a brand has 150 recipes, all of them have to be analyzed. Some chains have multiple brands and each brand may have different cuisines or menus that may vary from state to state,” Kabir Suri, president of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), which represents more than 500,000 restaurant operators, told The Times. of India said.

Menus, digital too, must mention nutritional information

According to FSSAI, the purpose of menu labeling is to promote public health. It aims to provide information to help consumers make well-informed choices about what they eat and what they feed their children at mealtimes, and to help them choose smaller portions. The guidance note on menu labeling from FSSAI mentions that the calorific value of the food product or dish, allergen information and logo of vegetarian or non-vegetarian food should be displayed on menu cards, menu boards, display boards, brochures. As a website, digital application, advertising material (both digital and printed) where a menu is displayed for information or ordering.

Therefore, your next visit to a restaurant should not prevent you from feeling guilty about overeating or making informed choices about your food intake.