ACTIVISTS PUSH BILL TO REQUIRE MENU CALORIE COUNT.

Byline: STEVEN HARMON

MediaNews Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO -- With obesity on the rise, a Bay Area lawmaker and health advocates appealed Wednesday to the state's fitness-conscious governor to sign a bill requiring restaurant chains to come clean about calories.

Senate Bill 120 would require chain restaurants with 15 or more locations to post the calorie content of regular food items on their menu boards. It would also require those restaurants to post calories, saturated and trans fat grams, carbohydrates and sodium levels on hand-out menus.

"Health and fitness are priorities for this governor," said the bill's principle co-author, Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier, D-Martinez.

"Just as he led the nation in getting sodas and junk foods out of schools, Governor Schwarzenegger once again has the opportunity to lead by ensuring Californians have the information they need to make healthy dining decisions when they eat out."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger must act on the bill by Oct. 14.

It faces heavy opposition from the California Restaurant Association, which is pressuring Schwarzenegger to veto the bill.

"While it applies only to chain restaurants, it is only a matter of time until the concept will be expanded to all restaurants in California," said a statement posted on the association's Web site.

Jot Condie, president and CEO of the restaurant association, has labeled the legislation a "feel-good Band-Aid" that ignores the true issues behind obesity while punishing restaurants.

Obesity rates, he said, have risen dramatically since 1990 despite labeling requirements on store-bought food.

But with families eating out more, health advocates said, restaurants should be compelled to assume more responsibility in informing customers about the food they serve.

"Putting calorie counts (on menus) can have a significant impact," said Dr. Diane Sobkowicz, a Sacramento cardiologist. "People need to know what they're eating."

A Field Poll earlier this year showed that 84 percent of registered voters favor requiring nutritional menu labeling. And a federal judge recently boosted the proponents' legal case by ruling that cities and states are free to require such labeling.

Nearly 60 percent of adults are overweight, officials said, contributing to more than 300,000 deaths a year, and costing the state $28 billion a year in health care costs and lost productivity.

sharmon(at)cctimes.com

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