Representative Peter Daley has introduced a statewide menu labeling bill.  While we're happy to see a menu labeling bill on the state level, Daley's bill has serious loopholes and exemptions that will reduce the public health benefits of menu labeling.  In addition, Philadelphia's strong menu labeling policy would be preempted by Daley's bill and be replaced with this weak policy.

We need your help to protect Philly's law and strengthen the Pennsylvania menu labeling bill!  Weakness in the bill, including exempting drive-thrus, alcohol, and buffets, undermine the purpose of menu labeling—to provide nutrition information to customers so that we can make more informed choices for ourselves and our families. 

Please contact your Representative today and ask him/her to urge the Commerce Committee to delay voting on the bill in order to consider important amendments suggested by public health organizations around the state and the country.

Thank you!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a Philadelphia resident, I ask you to urge the Commerce Committee to delay voting on HB1608, a well-intentioned but flawed menu labeling bill. While a strong menu labeling policy like Philadelphia's law can be an effective way to address obesity and other diet-related diseases, HB1608 contains significant loopholes and exemptions that would undermine the point of menu labeling and decrease the potential benefit to Pennsylvania's public health.

In addition, it would exempt Philadelphia's strong policy and replace it with a weak one. I hope you will speak on behalf of Philadelphia residents and protect the strong menu labeling policy that we worked so hard to achieve. With sky-high obesity rates, Philadelphia residents want and need an effective menu labeling policy to provide information we can use to make more informed decisions for ourselves and our families.

Serious problems with this bill include: -Exempting drive-thru menu boards from posting calories, since 65% of the fast food industry's revenue comes from drive-thru service

-Exempting beverage stations, buffets, and alcohol

-Allowing calorie information to be listed per serving rather than per menu item, which can mislead customers into thinking they are consuming less than they actually are

Please protect Philadelphia's policy and support effective menu labeling by pressing for the Commerce Committee to delay voting on HB1608 in order to consider proposed amendments from public health organizations to strengthen the bill.

Thank you and please let me know if you will help with this issue.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 15, 2009