Boston Herald: The Massachusetts Public Health Council has approved new statewide regulations that will require restaurant chains with 20 or more in-state locations to post calorie counts next to each item on their menus or menu boards, including those at drive-thrus. The calorie-labeling requirements, which will apply to some 50 restaurant chains with a combined 5,800 locations, take effect Nov. 1, 2010.
The restaurant chains are required to base the posted calorie counts on analyses done by nationally or state-licensed nutritionists or dieticians.
Massachusetts is the second state to require menu labeling. California was the first, with a law passed in September 2008 that requires chains operating 20 or more restaurants to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards.
