In This Section:
ICC Wants Feedback At Conference
States Stepping In On Calorie Posting
Bloomington, Ind., Puts Teeth In Fire Code
Two More Cities Eye Grease-Trap Laws
Rockland, N.Y., Tackles Ladies-Room Shortages
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Manitowoc Foodservice Group
Industry Report Sponsor: Server Products
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ICC Wants Feedback At Conference
All right. If you've ever felt the International Code Council wasn't getting enough feedback from the foodservice industry, speak now or forever hold your peace.
The ICC's looking for input at its Final Action Hearings, to be held Sept. 14-23 at the Minneapolis Convention Center as part of the group's annual meeting. The hearings are the last step before finalizing the 2009 edition of the ICC Codes.
The hearings give code officials, local government, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, construction-industry and foodservice professionals the opportunity to learn more about proposed changes in building, fire, mechanical and plumbing codes. Attendees are encouraged to voice their opinions about proposed changes. ICC CEO Rick Weiland said he expects some proposed changes to draw lively debate.
The conference also will feature educational sessions on topics ranging from hazard response to green building techniques as well as an exhibition of construction industry related pr/d5cTs and sErVices.
To register or find out more about the conference, go to www.iccsafe.org/conference.
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States Stepping In On Calorie Posting
First it was cities. Now it's entire states. Even while the New York State Restaurant Association awaits an appeal on the New York City ordinance that took effect in May requiring calorie counts on menu boards, state legislatures in both New York and California are evaluating bills that would mandate nutrition info on menus statewide.
The New York bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, would require chains with 15 units nationwide and at least five in the state to post calorie counts next to items on menus or menu boards. Chains wouldn't have to list any other nutrition information such as fat or sodium content.
The bill also would limit the requirement only to chains that already make nutrition information available to consumers—a stipulation similar to one that caused legal difficulty in New York City's first attempt at posting calorie counts.
The proposed bill was referred to a rules committee in mid-June and likely won't be decided until the next legislative session, which starts in January.
On the other coast, meanwhile, two California menu-labeling bills are wending their way through the state legislature. A bill in the Senate would require chains of 15 or more stores to post calories, trans fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates and sodium content of each standardized menu item next to the price in print as large as the price.
The California State Restaurant Association, calling that bill unreasonable and inflexible, has helped sponsor a competing bill in the Assembly. This one would require chains of 20 or more units to provide the same information, but in a manner of their choosing, including on the menu or on packaging, table tents, counter cards, tray liners, posters, brochures or other printed material, or electronic medium such as kiosks. Chains would have to post a notice letting consumers know nutrition info is available upon request.
Now that more jurisdictions are considering this type of legislation, the big winners may be menu-board makers.
Bloomington, Ind., Puts Teeth In Fire Code
To ensure its residents and businesses take fire safety seriously, Bloomington, Ind., is rewriting its fire code. The new regulations will bring the city's fire code more in line with state code, according to Fire Chief Roger Kerr.
To bring businesses in line, the new code imposes specific and substantial fines for code violations, and creates a clear outline of inspection procedures that can be strictly adhered to by the BFD. The city's original fire code was developed in 1976 and modified in '97. The new code, expected to be approved by the city council sometime in July, keeps most of the regulations and fire safety requirements intact, but fines are increasing, up to $2,500 depending on the violation, if businesses don't fix problems within 30 days of being cited.
The BFD said that increasing efficiency of its inspection procedures has decreased the number of fires 42% since 2005. The department said it hopes more education along with the new code will improve fire safety even more.
To find out more about the new code, call 812/332-9763, or go online to http://bloomington.in.gov/sections/viewSection.php?section_id=125.
Two More Cities Eye Grease-Trap Laws
Like the real fog rolling in over San Francisco Bay, new FOG rules are rolling out all over the country as sewer systems age and Environmental Protection Agency rules about sanitary-sewer overflows go into effect. Two of the latest towns to enact new fats-oils-grease ordinances include Willmar, Minn., and Stantonsburg, N.C.
Willmar, putting in a new $88 million water treatment facility anyway, decided it was a good time to implement both new rules and an education program aimed at residents and businesses on how to reduce FOG going into the wastewater stream. A new ordinance being developed would require grease traps on all new facilities. To learn more, call Colleen Thompson, wastewater treatment plant superintendent, at 320/235-4760 or visit www.ci.willmar.mn.us.
Stantonsburg also is reviewing a proposed ordinance that would require all restaurants and commercial kitchens to install grease traps. If approved, the ordinance will give restaurants a year to comply before it goes into effect.
Rockland, N.Y., Tackles Ladies-Room Shortages
About two hours northwest of New York City, the Rockland, N.Y., Department of Health thinks women are discriminated against where restaurant restrooms are concerned.
According to Health Inspector John Stoughton, putting it simply, there aren't enough ladies rooms. So he's helped draft a new ordinance designed to level the playing field.
The new law says restaurants with more than 50 seats must have 50% more fixtures for women than for men, meaning at least one toilet for men and two for women. Restaurants with more than 150 seats must have at least two toilets for men and three for women.
The ordinance only applies to new construction or restaurants under renovation.
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