This site was dedicated to providing information about California menu labeling law (SB 1420), the first phase of which took effect on July 1, 2009. Unfortunately, all the detailed requirements outlined in SB 1420 were repealed by SB 20 which was signed by Governor Brown on October 2, 2011 and which became effective on January 1, 2012. This law authorizes a local enforcement agency to enforce the federal menu labeling requirements once the federal regulations are adopted and a compliance date is set. The 2009 federal health care initiative (PPACA) included provisions for nationwide menu labeling requirements. Language in the initiative preempts local and state menu labeling laws, including SB 1420.
Here are some useful links:
- Summary of AB 20
- Unfortunately, according to the National Restaurant Association, the FDA will not release the final regulation until "some time in 2012" and there will be a lag before restaurants have to comply with the new regulations. (As of December 20th, 2011)
As of January 1, 2010 the law required that large restaurant chains with 20 or more locations in California disclosure calorie information only for each standard menu item directly on the menu if the restaurant has a menu, or on the indoor menu board if that is used, or on display tags if those are used in lieu of a menu or indoor menu board. For chain restaurants that have a drive-through area and use a menu board, they must disclose calories, grams of carbohydrates, grams of saturated fat and miligrams of sodium on a brochure that is available upon request.
Here are some useful links directly related to the bill:
Here are some other useful links related to chain menu nutrition labeling:
Compliance Status & Enforcement
As you may be aware, not all of the restaurant chains in California are in compliance with the new law. This site will list chains and their status with regard to compliance with SB 1420. Note that the information below may be based on a visit to a single location and thus not reflective of the typically practices for that chain. If you encounter a chain restaurant that is not in compliance with the new law, or you find the information below to be incorrect, or a specific location is following a different practice than what is listed below, please send an email to
nutrition@levitas.com with that information. Note that the information below has not been updated since the beginning of Phase II on January 1, 2011.
The following chains do not provide sit-down service and appear to be fully in compliance with the law:
- Burger King - Brochure available upon request
- Carl's Jr. - Provides a brochure that is available at the cash register. Here are links for the Carl's Jr. Nutrition Brochure: Page 1 and Page 2.
- McDonalds - Brochure available upon request
- Panda Express - - Brochure available upon request. Here are the links for the Panda Express Nutrition Brochures: Page 1 and Page 2.
- Quiznos - Provides a brochure that is available at the cash register. Here are links for the Quiznos Nutrition Brochure: Page 1 and Page 2.
- Round Table Pizza - - Brochure available upon request. Here are links for the Round Table Pizza Nutrition Brochures: Page 1 and Page 2.
- Sizzler - Brochure available upon request
- Starbucks - Provides a brochure that is available at the cash register.
- Subway - Provides nutritional information on a big sticker on the front of the glass counter in front of the sandwich fixings. They also provide a brochure at the cash register.
- Wingstop - - Brochure available upon request. Here is the link for the Wingstop Nutrition Brochure.
The following chains provide sit-down service and appear to be fully in compliance with the law:
- California Pizza Kitchen - Lists the calories (and only the calories) directly on the menu next to each item.
- Elephant Bar - Provides calorie information for all standard items on the menu. (Updated as of 1/2/2011)
- Olive Garden - Provides a small binder at the table listing the nutritional information about each item on their menu.
- Pasta Pomodoro - Provides a nutrition brochure at each table. Here is a link to the Pasta Pomodoro Nutrition Brochure.
- P.F. Chang's - Provides a laminated nutrition supplement listing the nutrition information for all standard dishes.
- BJ's Brewhouse - Provides detailed nutritional information at the back of each menu, this despite the fact that on their website they say they do not provide nutritional information on each menu item.
The following chains provide some nutritional information at some locations via some mechanism but do not appear to be in full compliance with the law:
- Chevy's - Provides nutritional information on a table tent but does not list the calories on the menu except at their San Francisco locations. (03-02-2011)
- Claim Jumper - Provides nutritional information on some of the items on their menu in a separate booklet on the table but does not list calories next to the menu items on the menu. Claim Jumper lists 22 locations in California. (03-06-2011)
- Juan Pollo - Does not provide any nutritional information via any channel. Their San Bernadino location has been reported to Amanda within the San Bernadino department of environmental health on 01-28-2011.
- Mrs. Fields Gourmet Cookies - Upon request, the staff will pull a couple sheets of information out of a binder and allow you to inspect the nutritional information. However, you can not keep a copy.
- Ono Hawaiian BBQ - Some locations do not provide any nutritional information and some locations provide a summary sheet that is available upon request.
- SanSai - Provides nutritional information on some but not all standard menu items. According to Mary at their corporate offices (213-327-0972) they are aware that they are currently not in compliance with SB 1420. They are working to pull the information together and hope to have it available by the end of February 2010.
