New Ontario legislation promotes healthy choices
On May 26, the Ontario Legislative Assembly passed the Making Healthier Choices Act (Bill 45), which promotes healthier menu choices, among other measures.
This legislation, which should become law later this year, has three main objectives:
- Protect the population against the harmful effects of tobacco
- Control the sale and use of electronic cigarettes
- Promote healthier food choices.
Making Healthier Choices Act, 2015
Three measures to encourage healthy eating will be implemented when the Act receives Royal Assent:
- Restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores and other food service premises with 20 or more locations in Ontario will be required to post on their menus or menu boards calorie counts of their meals, standard beverage items (including alcohol) and ready-to-eat and prepared foods.
- Regulated food service operators will be required to post contextual information to help educate patrons about their daily calorie requirements.
- The new legislation will also authorize the Minister to appoint inspectors to enforce menu labelling requirements in the establishments concerned.
Sources: Government of Ontario
Veille Action – June 12, 2015