"It's for our Children", Menu labeling, Real Food in Schools

Menu Labeling
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Beginning July 1, 2009 California requires sit-down chain restaurants (Denny's, IHOP, Chili's, etc.) to display information about salt, fat, nutrition, reports Roger Sideman (The Mid-County Post, August 28).

Some question the actual affect this law will have on behavior, but Sideman quotes Harry Balzer, a food researcher who has studied American eating habits, who stresses "It is for our children."

Fast food restaurants in California must comply by 2011.  
 
The last major change in nutrition labeling law (why not nutrition full-disclosure law?) was 19 years ago and is what is used on packaged goods.  Sideman's article also references a NJ lawsuit, a state which does not have restaurnant labeling law,  about excessive salt in a particular meal offered by chain restaurant; reministent of tobacco litigation?


Full article here (see paper version, not yet online)

More on the California menu labeling law SB 1420

Nutritional background, Center for Science in the Public Interest (good newsletter) and the NJ lawsuit.

Real Food in Schools
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On Labor Day (Sept 7, 12-1 pm) ,Slow Food Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Education Foundation will hold a picnic "eat-in" at San Lorenzo Park, byo brown bag.  One of 250 such events around California that day is to improve school lunch programs and align national goals with healthy nutiritional guidelines (speakers, petitions, children activities)


Build a Stronger Soquel and Live Oak - workshops

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Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency will be hosting community workshops in September on topics related to affordable housing, safe walking and biking, safety, youth activities.   The workshops, seeking Soquel and Live Oak community input,  will be offered on 4 different days and influence redevelopment projects for next 5 years.  More here.