title: Mandating nutrient menu labeling in restaurants: potential public health benefits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many Americans have replaced home-cooked meals with fast food and restaurants meals. This contributes to increased incidences of overweight and obesity. Implementing policies that require restaurants to disclose nutrition information has the potential to improve nutrition knowledge and food behaviors. The purpose of this paper was to examine the potential health benefits of nutrient menu labeling in restaurants, the progress of this legislation and to provide results regarding the implementation of these policies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data sources were obtained from a search of multiple databases including PubMed, Science Direct, Academic Search Premier, and Google Scholar. Study inclusion criteria were publication in the past ten years, obesity prevention, and utilization of nutrition labeling on menus in restaurants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial policies to provide consumers with nutrition information in restaurant settings began at the state levels in 2006. These laws demonstrated success, other states followed, and a national law was passed and is being implemented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mandating nutrient menu disclosure has the potential to influence a large number of people; this legislation has the opportunity to impact Americans who dine at a fast food or chain restaurant. Given the growing obesity epidemic, continued research is necessary to gauge the effectiveness of this new law and its effects on the health status of the American people.
authors.affiliation: The University of Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Stran
authors.forename: Lori W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Knol
mesh_terms: D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D037141:Mandatory Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act / Q000592:standards; D015995:Prevalence; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012147:Restaurants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology