(Washington, D.C.) Hope S. Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE, and author of Eat Out, Eat Right and Guide to Healthy Restaurant Eating released the following statement regarding Diabetes Alert Day:

“Diabetes is a serious and escalating problem in our country; today nearly 18 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes, nearly 6 million don’t yet know they have it and another 57 million are at risk with pre-diabetes. Diabetes Alert Day provides a platform from which to discuss what the government, health experts and individual citizens can do to address the related twin epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes in our country.

“As a dietitian and diabetes educator who has written about healthier restaurant eating and counseled people to make more nutritious restaurant food choices for more than 20 years, I am thrilled that Congress has taken action by introducing the LEAN Act to provide detailed nutrition information in chain food establishments – an important step in decreasing both the obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemic.

“Cities such as Philadelphia and New York have adopted ordinances requiring restaurants to disclose calories in their restaurants. While, calories are certainly an important indicator to which a food item is healthy, they are not the only factor. Beyond calories, the people with diabetes who I frequently work with are also interested in knowing the grams carbohydrates and saturated fats in restaurant foods as well as the sodium counts. We need to help people have access to detailed nutrition information at chain food restaurants in the location that is most logical for the specific restaurant chain, from on the menu board, to the menu or large poster. I believe that Congress should pass the LEAN Act to provide people with the detailed nutrition information they want and deserve to eat and live healthier.

“The uniform national standard proposed in the LEAN Act is the best approach for consumers. Combined with behavioral changes and increased education, the detailed nutrition information the LEAN Act offers can help people with diabetes as well as all consumers throughout the nation make healthier choices.”

Biography of Hope Warshaw

Hope Warshaw is a nationally recognized and respected dietitian and diabetes educator. She applies nearly thirty years of experience and expertise in her work as an author, freelance writer, media spokesperson, consultant and diabetes educator. Hope is most well known for her expertise in the areas of healthy restaurant eating and diabetes nutrition management. She offers practical solutions to healthier eating for one person during individual counseling or to millions through varied communication vehicles. Hope is the author of numerous books including, Eat Out, Eat Right and Guide to Healthy Restaurant Eating.

Background information on the Labeling Education and Nutrition Act:

The LEAN Act requires chain food service establishments and restaurant chains with 20 more locations to provide detailed nutrition information regarding their standard menu items in writing, in the restaurant to their guests. Restaurant nutrition information would be calculated following the “reasonable basis” approach that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) developed. This approach allows variation in portion size and formulation that may be expected in restaurant settings, but not manufactured foods.

The LEAN Act will ensure that consumers have convenient access to detailed nutritional information when they want it while allowing chain food service establishments the flexibility to communicate that information by recognizing they are different from food manufacturers. Consumers will also receive a consistent set of detailed nutrition facts in chain food service establishments across the country.

The Senate version of the LEAN Act, S. 558, was reintroduced on March 10, 2009 by Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Bill Nelson (D-FL) and George V. Voinovich (R-OH).

The House version of the LEAN Act, H.R. 1398, was reintroduced on March 9, 2009 by Representatives Jim Matheson (D-UT), Fred Upton (R-MI), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dan Boren (D-OK), Henry Cuellar (R-TX), Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Mike Ross (D-AR).