Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter signed a bill that orders most chain restaurants to display calorie, fat and other information. The bill was signed at the Center for Obesity Research Education at Temple University.
In November, the bill passed the City Council by a vote of 12-5. The law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2010.
The Philadelphia ordinance applies to restaurant chains — including coffee shops, ice cream parlors and convenience stores — with a total of 15 or more stores, whether in the city or elsewhere. It will require their outlets in the city to tell customers about calories, saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrates and sodium.
Because it covers more items and has fewer exemptions, it is broader than laws passed in other places including New York City and California.
Philadelphia was once labeled the fattest city in the land by Men's Fitness magazine.
This is a follow-up to an earlier post on November 14, 2008 applauding Philadelphia's City Council for its passage of what may be the nation's toughest calorie and nutrition posting law.
