menu label rules: preparing and responding toquestions

Menu Labeling:Preparing for and

Responding to Questions

Gillian Dagan, Ph.D.

Chief Scientific Officer, ABC Research

Yuly Virviescas

Business Development, ABC Research

Meet Gillian Folkes Dagan, PhD

• Chief Scientific Officer at ABC Research Laboratories

• PhD in Food Science, specializing in Food Processing and Quality

• Certified Food Scientist by the Institute of Food Technologists

• 10+ years in food science and QA

Meet Yuly Virviescas

• Business Development Director for ABC Research Laboratories

• Specializes in food QA and nutritional analysis for the restaurant and foodservice industries

• Degree in Food Science & Human Nutrition

• 4 years experience connecting laboratories & restaurants

Meet ABC Research Laboratories

• Serving the food industry since 1967

• Full microbiological, chemical, and nutritional testing facilities on site

• ISO 17025 accredited

• Specialized programs for restaurant and foodservice

Topics to Cover

• Prepare to publish

• Avoiding conflicting data

• Communicating procedures and

limitations

• Guest Questions

• Media Questions

Preparing to Publish

• Gathered all data

• Reality check?

– What are my highest and lowest values?

– Do I have sections of my menu with

marketing claims? (<500 cal, low sodium)

– Have I clearly communicated about

sauces and dressings?

– Last chance to reformulate/resize

Avoiding Conflicting Data

• Make sure your message is consistent

across all channels

– Menus

– Table Top Displays

– Advertisements

– Website

– Social Media

• Add update date and frequency

Communicating Procedures

and Limitations

• Talking about how the data was

generated could set you apart from

comparison data

• http://www.raleys.com/www/feature/

dietitian.jsp?featureid=1362036

• http://www.oswego.edu/administratio

n/auxiliary_services/resident_dining/m

onthly_menu/nutri_disclaimer.html

Communicating Procedures

and Limitations

• Using a variety of methods shows you

did your due diligence

• http://www.wawa.com/Nutrition.aspx

Communicating Procedures

and Limitations

• Placement of a disclaimer is something

to consider

• http://www.avantisnormal.com/Nutriti

on.htm

Communicating Procedures

and Limitations

• Is it OK to recognize large difference

may occur?

• https://fermilabcafe.southernfoodservi

ce.com/SiteContent/129/Nutritional_In

form__Disclaimer_2013.pdf

Communicating Procedures

and Limitations

• Mention rounding rules if you use them

• May want an additional disclaimer for

allergen information

• http://www.pfchangs.com/images/Nu

tritional%20Info/pfc_pilot_nutrition.html

Guest Questions

• Topics could include

– General explanation of the info on the

menu

– Needing additional information

– “I have [medical condition/dietary

request]. What can I eat here?”

– Allergens

Before Publishing

• Educate all employees

– What? Calories on menus

– Who? Guests versus Media

– When? Your publication date

– Where? Additional info can be found--

– Why? [your choice]

• Discuss options for special populations

or folks watching their calories

• Chain of command for hard questions

Media Questions

• Determine who will speak on

company’s behalf

• Educate employees what to do if

approached by the media

• Have your statement(s) ready before

you need them

Media Statements

• Explanation of calorie levels

• Explanation of how you derived your

calorie counts

– What? Mix of Lab and Database

– Who? Team in place for verification

– When? Data is validated by tests

quarterly and training reinforced

– Where? Outsourced to experts

– Why? Due Diligence, Liability

Media Statements

• The how and why of variation

• Questions for the other side

– How many locations/samples were

tested?

– How was the food ordered?

– Did you get what you actually ordered?

– How was the food tested and by whom?

– What are the qualifications of that service

provider?

For More Info

• Other Webinars and White Papers Also

Available

• Find us Online:

– Facebook: ABC Research Laboratories

– Twitter: @foodtestexperts

– Subscribe to our Blog: info.abcr.com

– Linked In: ABC Research Laboratories

Coming up next:

• Nutritional testing is done. My

restaurant is ready, right?

–Monday, December 22, 2PM

Register online using the link in the

chat window.

For More Info

• Other Webinars and White Papers Also

Available in our Resource Center

• Find us Online:

– Facebook: ABC Research Laboratories

– Twitter: @foodtestexperts

– Blog: info.abcr.com

– Linked In: ABC Research Laboratories

• Next Webinar: December 17th, 2PM

Thank you!

Gillian Folkes Dagan, PhD

gillian@abcr.com

352.246.7739

Yuly Virviescas

yulyv@abcr.com

407.929.1787