US introduces menu calorie labeling to fight obesity

美国对抗肥胖新政 菜单标明卡路里

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.

美国政府于25日出台一项食品行业新规定,要求连锁餐馆和大型自动售货机商家在菜单中标明食物所含的卡路里,以提醒人们高脂高糖食物会带来肥胖的风险.

"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.

"肥胖已成为一项全国通病,影响了数百万美国人,"美国国家食品和药物管理局（Food and Drug Administration）专员玛格利特·汉伯格（Margaret Hamburg）在24日的电话会议上告诉记者.

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

"美国人摄入的卡路里中有约三分之一来自于在外就餐,这很令人惊讶."

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.

食品和药物管理局出台的这项新规定是2010年美国平价医疗法案(Affordable Care Act)的一部分,适用于全美范围内拥有20家及以上连锁店的餐厅.

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.

它规定所有的菜单和菜单板上必须标明卡路里数.其他营养成分的信息如脂肪、胆固醇、糖类和蛋白质所含的卡路里信息,如有要求,也必须能够以书面形式提供.

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.