Takeout Menus and the Specter of Red Tape

July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Republicans and Democrats are engagedin serious discussions about the policy reforms needed toachieve sustained economic growth, job creation and deficitreduction. As these debates unfold, a number of importantopportunities exist for Congress to provide regulatory relief tothe U.S. economy. Menu labeling represents one example of aregulation that threatens to impose significant costs onconsumers and small businesses without delivering meaningfulvalue to the public.

The Food and Drug Administration is completing newregulations for adding calorie labeling on restaurant menus,mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.Although we support providing consumers with increased access tonutritional information, the agency’s proposed regulations areexpensive and ineffective. Fixing this could benefit tens ofthousands of restaurants, grocery stores and convenience storesthat otherwise would be burdened with regulations that will becostly and stymie job creation.