Yuma lawmaker reaches compromise on food labeling

Phoenix - Unable to force nutrition labeling by restaurants, Yuma State Sen. Amanda Aguirre has instead agreed to a purely voluntary program - and only for the items the food servers want.

The new "Arizona Smart Choice'' program, launched Monday with the help of the state Department of Health Services, will allow participating restaurants to label some of their individual items and combinations as "healthy.'' Four chains already have signed up.

Aguirre, a Yuma Democrat who had sought the labeling mandate by chain restaurants last year, said this program, negotiated in cooperation with the restaurant industry, still provides helpful information to diners.

The program also contains a carrot of sorts: The health department Web site aimed at restaurants that might want to sign up said they will get "statewide publicity and recognition'' through press releases. They also will be able to put a special state-designed decal on the door.

Aguirre, a nutritionist, said her original legislation and the new program both are designed to deal with the fact that people like to eat out. But she said they can't always know what is healthy.

She said some things, like fat and sodium, can be "hidden'' from the average customer.

To qualify for approval, a main dish must have at least one serving of beans, whole grains, fruits or vegetables. It can have no more than 700 calories, with no more than 30 percent
of those calories from fat and 15 percent from saturated fat.

Trans fats would be limited to 0.5 grams, with a maximum of 1,500 mg of sodium. Side dishes have lower limits.

Aguirre said the state-approved logo next to specific items or combinations would instantly identify items that qualify. She said that actually could prove more useful than specific nutrition labeling of each item, similar to what is required on packages of prepared food sold in grocery stores.

"If you understand what the healthy choice is, you will know that that's a good choice for you,'' she said.

Nothing keeps restaurants in Arizona now from labeling the calorie, fat and sodium contents of their items. Some, like McDonald's which is an early participant in the program, have full breakdowns available; others, like Subway, promote the fat and calorie content of several of their sandwich combos.

But Steve Chucri, president of the Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association, said this is preferable to a mandate because the health department is working as a partner. Chucri also said there are specific benefits for independent restaurants.

He said chains already know the nutrition content of their menu items. This allows independent restaurants to have their recipes analyzed by nutritionists and then have the results reviewed the health department to see if they qualify and, if necessary, make adjustments to have their classified as "smart choice'' menu items.

State health officials said there will be a "minimal'' cost to taxpayers. State Health Director Susan Gerard said those expenses are justified because it is her agency's "core business
and responsibility'' to improve the health of all state residents. Just because a restaurant participates in the "smart choice'' program doesn't mean diners won't be able to get the not-so-smart choices.

Brad Teufel, who owns and operates seven McDonald's restaurants in Mesa and one in Scottsdale, said Big Macs and other popular items will remain. And he predicted these will continue to outsell things like the Asian chicken salad, which will be one of the company's "smart choice'' listings.

What the program does, Teufel said, is educate consumers that the chain, all of whose Arizona restaurants will participate, does have healthy options.

Aguirre said the idea is not new, with similar programs in Colorado and several other states.