State the federal requirement for calorie labeling on menus in chain restaurants and any public access requirements?

• A. FDA requires chain restaurants with 20+ locations to post caloric information on menus; nutrient information available to the public upon request.
• B. Calorie labeling is optional for all restaurants.
• C. State governments mandate labeling only in certain counties.
• D. Calorie info is not disclosed to the public.

Answer: (A)

The federal rule requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide to display calories for standard menu items on menus and menu boards. In addition, the complete nutrition information must be available to the public upon request, typically in written form or online. This combination lets customers see the calorie count at the point of purchase and obtain full nutrient details if they want them.

This is not optional, nor limited to certain counties. The public access provision ensures transparency by allowing anyone to request the full nutrition facts beyond what’s posted.