Legislator Toback Sponsors Law Requiring Calorie Listings on Menus

Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside) is sponsoring a proposed law requiring that the caloric content of food be posted by certain food establishments in Nassau County. The bill, if passed, will require food service establishments, which are one of a group of 15 or more such establishments doing business nationally (i.e. franchise outlets), to post calorie information on all menu boards and menus.

Legislators Toback and Denenberg held a press conference at the Nickerson Beach Dover Caterers concession stand where owner Butch Yamali is voluntarily listing the calorie contents on a menu board.

“This law will help young people to make healthy decisions before they get older when habits are harder to break,” Legislator Toback said. “I think if people saw just how many calories they were eating with some of these foods they would rethink their food choices. For example, a hot pretzel is over 800 calories and I’m not sure most people know that. I think an informed consumer is a healthier consumer.”

Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside), third from right, the sponsor of a proposed law requiring calorie listings on menus and menu boards, held a press conference at Nickerson Beach. He pointed to the menu board where Dover Caterers is voluntarily providing calorie listings to benefit beachgoers. Legislator Toback was joined by, from left, Chelsea Newman; Alyson Belgraier; Legislator Dave Denenberg, co-sponsor of the law; Jose Lopez, Commissioner of Parks and Museums; and Butch Yamali, owner of Dover Caterers.