Summer is here, legislation is pending and most state governments are in adjournment. Here’s what’s on the docket during these dog days of August:Meal Taxes: Minneapolis is one of a growing number of cities seeking to shore up governmental coffers with so-called meal taxes. More and more municipalities are considering appending additional taxes to meals…

Last week saw a state appellate court uphold the New York Supreme Court’s ruling striking down New York City’s ban on restaurants selling sugar-sweetened beverages of more than 16 ounces. The decision that the New York Board of Health and Mental Hygiene “violated the state principle of separation of powers” is a significant blow against…

While menu labeling remains on track—albeit still a bit confusing for many chains—another component of the 2010 Affordable Health Care Act has been delayed. On July 2, the Treasury Dept. announce a yearlong delay for the law’s mandate that requires “large employers” to report to the IRS whether they offered their full-time employees and their…

It’s a clean slate for hundreds of restaurants which have been certified, or re-certified, under the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission’s Clean Bay Restaurant Certification Program. Stormwater runoff is a major source of coastal pollution in southern California. Restaurants produce large amounts of waste, which when handled improperly, can enter the storm drain system and…

The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers has made equipment connectivity easier than ever with the introduction of its NAFEM Data Protocol Version 3.0. The new version identifies the basic data structure and leaves data definition in the manufacturer’s hands. Application notes include suggestions for implementation and data transfer, and provide implementation and data…

Not even trace amounts of trans fat will be allowed in restaurant food served in Chelsea, Mass. The city just next door to Boston voted July 16 to enact the harshest trans fat ban in the country; while other cities that have established similar bans have allowed for trace amounts of artificial trans fat in…

Some like to think that everything is bigger in Texas. In the state capital, at least, the rebates for water savings are pretty considerable—up to $100,000 for foodservice equipment and process upgrades that produce water savings of at least 100 gals. per day. Austin Water offers rebates to customers who replace existing foodservice equipment, including…

The Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals is among the organizations and healthcare groups supporting the Safe Food for Seniors Act of 2013 (H.R. 2181), introduced in Congress in May. The bipartisan bill would amend the Social Security Act with respect to the qualification of the foodservice director at a federally funded (Medicare or Medicaid)…

With the Certified Foodservice Professional exam no longer being offered at the NAFEM or NRA shows, industry personnel should take advantage of an opportunity next month in Chicago. Each August, NAFEM headquarters in Chicago hosts an in-person Equipment & Supplies Overview Seminar. This year’s seminar is Wed., Aug. 14, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CST. Participants…

Forty restaurant owners in the Bronx have sued the city, calling the New York Health Department’s grading system unconstitutional and an unfair tax on small businesses. In a $150 million lawsuit, the operators accuse health inspectors of levying excessive fines to raise revenue and driving eateries out of business. In addition, they claim the inspectors…