FDA Extends Compliance Deadline For Menu Nutrition Labeling

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has extended the compliance deadline for the final rule requiring disclosure of nutrition information for standard menu items in certain restaurants and retail food establishments (codified at 21 C.F.R. § 101.11).  On May 1, 2017, the FDA released an Interim Final Rule extending the compliance deadline for covered establishments from May 5, 2017 to May 7, 2018.

 

The FDA’s stated purpose in extending the deadline is to consider how the agency might reduce the regulatory burden on covered establishments and increase compliance flexibility while still achieving its regulatory objective to provide consumers with nutrition information enabling them to make informed food choices for themselves and their families.  The FDA requests that interested parties submit comments within 60 days after the Interim Final Rule is officially published in the Federal Register.