Poll finds Californians oppose strict menu labeling mandate
(August 12, 2008, Sacramento, CA) A new statewide poll found that 62 percent of Californians prefer to have nutritional information available in restaurants but not on the menu board, versus 37 percent who favor a mandate to post the information on the menu board. The poll, conducted by the Peter D. Hart Research Associates, shows that while customers do want nutritional information available in restaurants, they prefer a policy that offers restaurants a variety of methods for providing the data. The poll also found that 55 percent favor a statewide standard over a system of local ordinances.
“Restaurants voluntarily began to make nutritional information available years ago because the restaurant industry recognized that many of our customers wanted it,” said Jot Condie, president and CEO of the California Restaurant Association (CRA). “But our patrons want a choice in accessing the information rather than the government determining how, when and where they receive the information.”
The survey confirmed this preference, 56 percent of those surveyed said that restaurants should have the flexibility to determine how to provide nutritional information to customers. Similarly, 58 percent of those polled said that they were worried that the government will go too far in its efforts to require restaurants to provide nutritional information.
“This poll confirms that groups supporting the menu labeling-only approach are out of step with the public,” said Condie. “The public is accessing information in many different and more useful ways and does not support legislation or local ordinances that restrict their access to this information.”
Recently, Santa Clara and San Francisco counties passed local menu labeling ordinances. Additional ordinances are being considered, while the state Legislature considers two competing pieces of legislation that would establish a statewide standard for nutritional information disclosure. Restaurants have supported the creation of a statewide standard that allows for flexibility in the information display to meet the preferences of their customers.
“Restaurants are constantly researching and talking to their patrons; it’s the nature of our industry to respond to and reflect the preferences of our customers,” said Condie.
The poll of California voters was conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, a Democratic public opinion research firm based in Washington, DC, on behalf of the CRA.
