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January 18, 2017 – This information is from the Ontario Public Health Association

Menu labelling will ease health-care costs: OPHA

 

Ontario’s new Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015 will lead to healthier people and ease the pressure on our health-care system, Ontario Public Health Association president Ellen Wodchis says.

 

 "As more Ontarians enjoy dining outside the home, menu labelling will empower individuals and parents to make informed choices to better their health and that of their families,” Wodchis says. "This will help reduce pressure on our health-care system by reducing visits to hospitals and doctors."

 

Under the new legislation, which came into force January 1, 2017, Ontario food service providers—such as restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores, grocery stores and movie theatres with 20 or more locations—must include the number of calories for food and beverage items on their menus, tags and labels.

Ontario is the first Canadian province to introduce caloric menu labeling for food and drink items, and the OPHA commends the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for taking the first step in this direction.