Calorie Amounts Coming to Ontario Menus Beginning January 1st

As the new year begins, Ontario is making it easier for people to make informed and healthy choices about what to eat when dining out or purchasing ready-to-eat meals to take home.

Starting January 1, Ontario will be the first province in Canada to require food service providers such as restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores, and movie theatres with 20 or more locations in the province  to include the number of calories for each food and beverage item on their menus, labels or tags.

“Inclusion of nutrition information on menu boards marks a bold step by the Ontario government,” Leslie Whittington Carter of the Dietitians of Canada said. Food Service providers are also required to post an educational statement for customers about average daily caloric needs.