U.S. government joins food fight over menu labeling

The U.S. government has joined a food fight between New York City and a national group opposing new food labeling regulations for chain grocery and convenience stores.

The Department of Justice filed legal papers this week on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration, asking a judge to block the city from enforcing a law requiring some stores serving prepared foods to post calorie information where the foods are sold.

“FDA intends to utilize the authority given to it by Congress to craft uniform national standards for food labeling,” said agency spokeswoman Jennifer Corbett Dooren.

The National Association of Convenience Stores is challenging the rules in court, arguing that provisions of President Barack Obama’s health care bill called for national standards and that enforcement by local municipalities violates that law.

The FDA and New York City have similar calorie labeling requirements, but the FDA said earlier this year it would delay implementation until May 2018.

The New York City Health Department has said it plans to begin enforcement of its requirements on the chain grocery and convenience stores beginning next Monday.

“We are disappointed that the Food and Drug Administration has filed (court documents) opposing the city’s enforcement of its calorie labeling requirements,” Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a statement.