Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on January 8, 2018. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise the nutritional information that restaurants and retail food establishments must disclose. The nutrient content disclosure statement on the menu or menu board must include: (1) the number of calories contained in the whole menu item; (2) the number of servings and number of calories per serving; or (3) the number of calories per common unit of the item, such as for a multi-serving item that is typically divided before presentation to the consumer. Nutritional information may be provided solely by a remote-access menu (e.g., an Internet menu) for food establishments where the majority of orders are placed by customers who are off-premises.

Establishments with self-serve food may comply with the requirements for restaurants or place signs with nutritional information adjacent to each food item.

An establishment's nutrient content disclosures may vary from actual nutrient content if the disclosures comply with current standards for reasonable basis.

Establishments with standard menu items that come in different flavors, varieties, or combinations, that are listed as a single menu item may determine and disclose nutritional information using specified methods or methods allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Regulations pursuant to this bill or the clause amended by this bill may not take effect until the compliance date specified in the regulations promulgated pursuant to this bill.

The FDA may not exempt states from nutrition labeling requirements.

(Sec. 3) Establishments are not liable in any state or federal civil action for claims arising out of an alleged violation of federal or state nutrition labeling, unless the action is brought by a state or the United States.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov