SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Following the lead of New York City and Seattle, San Francisco is on the verge of requiring restaurant chains to prominently display calorie counts and other health information for its menu items.

Today, a Board of Supervisors committee will weigh in on legislation authored by Supervisor Tom Ammiano that would require restaurants with 15 or more locations throughout the state to list on its menus, for each food item offered, the number of calories, and the amount of saturated fat, carbohydrates and sodium — in letter size as prominent as used to list the food item.

The information would help prevent obesity, diabetes and other avoidable diseases, the bill states.

“We see it as a health issue,” Ammiano said.

The bill is supported by health groups, but is opposed by The City’s largest restaurant group, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association.

Kevin Westlye, executive director of the GGRA, said that the bill was too restrictive and should include only chains with 25 or more locations.

“This legislation would have a significant impact on the success and the operations of our restaurant,” wrote Susan Connelly, a representative for Darden Restaurants, a company that includes the Olive Garden chains, in an e-mail to Ammiano.

If approved, violators could receive fines up to $500.

A similar measure was adopted by state legislators last year but was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

jsabatini@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

1:36 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008 re: "Smile, city government, you�re on webcast camera"

Examiner Reader said:
$131k per year to implement...how about if the Supervisors kick in portions of their own salaries to cover the cost?

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7:46 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008 re: "Smile, city government, you�re on webcast camera"

Kimo Crossman said:
The ordinance only requires digital recording. SFGTV on it's own initiative is expanding that to audio webcasting in August 2008.

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3:57 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 11, 2008 re: "Outgoing supervisors vie for sway"

Examiner Reader said:
Mayor Newsom is hardly a stranger to political power plays.

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3:46 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 9, 2008 re: "S.F. eateries may start counting calories"

turtle head said:
How in the world would it help make people healthy? If you don't know deep fried food makes you fat, you are likely fat because you are too stupid too be able to read.

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3:04 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 19, 2008 re: "Modicum of moderation on the way?"

King of the Dynasty said:
Chris Daly endorses David Chiu in D#3. Voters need to remember that connection when they vote. Do we want more of the same political dysfunction?

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6:39 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 18, 2008 re: "Modicum of moderation on the way?"

CRS said:
Sabatini states: "Moderates are looking to break the current progressive majority on the Board of Supervisors to give Mayor Gavin Newsom the four allies needed on the 11-member board to assure veto power on legislation." This is not particularly so. The mayor already has his veto power. Moderates are running with no reference to the mayor. They're running because they feel the need to bring some sanity and responsibility to the supes' side of the second floor, that's why. Andrew Ferguson

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1:46 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 7, 2008 re: "S.F. eateries may start counting calories"

Native San Franciscan said:
I sometimes wonder if Tom Ammiano isn't going to be happy until every restaurant in San Francisco is closed and either turned into a homeless shelter or crack house. So now were going to turn every restaurant menu into a document the size of the Tokyo phone book putting yet another cost on San Francisco restaurants in order to inform people of something they should take the individual responsibility to learn themselves. Why anybody whould want to own a restaurant in San Francisco with the current pinhead on the Board of Supervisors is beyone me.

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