Second Circuit Upholds New York Fast-Food Menu Rule

by Deepak Gupta

I'm delighted that the Second Circuit has decided to uphold New York City’s landmark fast-food menu rule, which requires chain restaurants to disclose calorie information on their menus. (We previously blogged about the case here and here.) Today’s decision is a major victory in the fight against the obesity epidemic. It protects consumers’ right to know important nutritional facts and make informed and healthy choices when they eat out. The ruling is also significant because it clears the way for many similar state and local laws throughout the nation, such as those recently passed by the state of California and the city of Philadelphia.

The fast-food industry had asked the court to strike down New York’s rule, claiming that it was preempted by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 and that it violated the First Amendment under a compelled-speech theory. Public Citizen filed a brief opposing those arguments, representing a broad coalition that included Congressman Henry Waxman (the lead sponsor of the 1990 law), former FDA Commissioner David Kessler (who signed the first rules implementing the statute), the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the American Medical Association, the American Diabetes Association and many other leading public health groups and academic experts.

Today’s decision echoes many of our arguments and begins with a passage that comes right out of our brief: "In requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on their menus," the court concluded, "New York City merely stepped into a sphere that Congress intentionally left open to state and local governments.”

In assessing the industry's First Amendment arguments under a rational basis standard, the court cited research showing that eating out is a major contributor to obesity and that consumers are typically unable to assess the caloric content of foods. They do not know, for example, that a smoked turkey sandwich at Chili’s (930 calories) contains more calories than a sirloin steak (540 calories), or that two jelly donuts from Dunkin Donuts have fewer calories than a sesame bagel with cream cheese.  Until I started working on this case, I had no idea either.

As a matter of political philosopy, New York's rule is perhaps a good illustration of the kind of "libertarian paternalism" advocated by certain scholars influenced by behavioral economics, such as Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler (as described in their recent book, Nudge, which Jeff Sovern has thoughtfully blogged about in these pages.)  In theory, at least, this is the kind of law that people from all ends of the political spectrum should be able to support; it helps consumers make choices that will maximize their welfare, but the choice is ultimately left up to them. Even Richard Posner has offered a qualified defense of the regulation.

Comments

[Great Iron Vitamins]

Finally a measure of good sense has won through, though unfortunately many of the people who eat fast food know it's bad for them and they just don't care.

[Fast Weight Loss Diet]

I've welcomed the new calorie labeling in deciding what to buy fast food places. It instantly reveals what I could only guess before and I've been surprised how misguided some of my guesses were. Who would have thought a smallish carrot muffin could be so calorie-heavy?

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[Philly]

I am so glad that fast food places are now putting up posters of the food they serve and how many calories are in each food product. I am amazed sometimes at how many calories are in some of the burgers. I just use work out plans at http://www.work-out-plans.com to get rid of those extra calories.

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[CL&P Blog]

I am no longer with Public Citizen Litigation Group. Please contact Marybeth Stiles, the new office manager of the Litigation Group, at mstiles@citizen.org, or any member of the Litigation Group at (202) 588-1000.

Lindsay Barton
Former Office Manager
Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

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[CL&P Blog]

I am no longer with Public Citizen Litigation Group. Please contact Marybeth Stiles, the new office manager of the Litigation Group, at mstiles@citizen.org, or any member of the Litigation Group at (202) 588-1000.

Lindsay Barton
Former Office Manager
Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

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I am amazed sometimes at how many calories are in some of the burgers.

[CL&P Blog]

I am no longer with Public Citizen Litigation Group. Please contact Marybeth Stiles, the new office manager of the Litigation Group, at mstiles@citizen.org, or any member of the Litigation Group at (202) 588-1000.

Lindsay Barton
Former Office Manager
Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

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It's unbelievable the amount of calories in the fast food ... really affects health in its full full action.

[CL&P Blog]

I am no longer with Public Citizen Litigation Group. Please contact Marybeth Stiles, the new office manager of the Litigation Group, at mstiles@citizen.org, or any member of the Litigation Group at (202) 588-1000.

Lindsay Barton
Former Office Manager
Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

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Did you know that the fast food and casual dining restaurants you eat in every day have secret menu items? A select few are in on the secret and now you are a part of this culinary elite. We aren't just talking about the barely secret In-N-Out Burger "hold the bread, lettuce wrapped burger,” oh no. We have items all over town, including an unhealthy smoothie at Jamba Juice and a San Francisco-only Mc10:35. The Consumerist is all over this, and now you can be too.

[CL&P Blog]

I am no longer with Public Citizen Litigation Group. Please contact
Marybeth Stiles, the new office manager of the Litigation Group, at
mstiles@citizen.org, or any member of the Litigation Group at (202)
588-1000.

Lindsay Barton
Former Office Manager
Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009