Last year the state issued regulations, 105 CMR 590.009(G), requiring food establishments with 20 or more locations within the state to post calorie content of their menu items. Those requirements were to take effect November 1.
But the new Federal health care reform law, PL 111-148, includes similar requirements (in sec.4205), and the Federal standard will trump the state requirement. The Federal law applies to restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide, and also to vending machines. Under the Federal law, the Food and Drug administration must propose regulations within a year. It is unclear how long those regulations will take to be finalized or when the ultimate effective date will be.
In the meantime, the state is moving forward to rescind its regulations, according to the Boston Globe.
