Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
 AN ACT REQUIRING THE DISCLOSURE OF NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION IN 
MENUS OF FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Three out of ten adult Filipinos are considered overweight and obese, according to the most recent 
DOST National Nutrition Survey. With the global shift to work-from-home setup brought about 
by the COVID-19 pandemic and a disposition for a sedentary lifestyle, this figure is expected to 
rise. This bill seeks to promote public health awareness through requiring the disclosure of caloric 
and nutritional information in menus of food service establishments.  
Convenience and fast service are shaping the consumer preferences in the country, especially in 
busy urban areas. By 2026, the quick service restaurant industry (offering fast food) in the 
Philippines is expected to reach USD 7.9 billion. The Filipino food consumption practices are 
changing. Today, about 46 percent of Filipinos eat at fast food chains one to three times a week.  
These popular chain restaurants offer food that is easily available, inexpensive, and dense in 
calories.  
Today, while packaged food is already regulated through required nutritional facts, there are no 
existing laws mandating restaurants and food establishments to prominently display the nutritional 
value of food products on their menu. By providing the necessary nutrition information, Filipino 
consumers are able to make informed choices, empowering them to choose food that is more 
aligned with their health goals, dietary restrictions and personal preferences.  
Disclosing nutritional information benefits both food establishments and customers. As regulatory 
and legal compliance, it provides transparency and trust that will improve restaurant patronage. 
Consequently, the public health impact of nutritional information also reduces the incidence of 
diet-related issues in the Filipino population. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought.  
MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS 
Representative 
3rd District, Cotabato Province 
10982
October 7, 2024
9:48 am


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___________ 
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samanta Taliño Santos 
AN ACT REQUIRING THE DISCLOSURE OF NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION IN 
MENUS OF FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Nutritional Information Disclosure 
Act of 2024." 
Section 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby 
defined: 
a.
Calorie content information refers to the total number of calories per standaid menu item,
as that item is usually prepared and offered for sale;
b. Covered food establishment refers to any food establishments that are part of a chain of
fifteen (15) or more food service establishments doing business under common ownership
or control, or as franchised outlets of a parent business, or that do business under the same
name or that voluntarily register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be
covered;
c.
Food refers to a unit serving of ready-to-eat food or beverage for sale in a restaurant or
food service establishment;
d. Food-on-display refers to food offered for sale that is visible to a customer before making
selection, and needs no further preparation before consumption;
e.
Menu refers to a printed list or pictorial display of a food item or items, and their price(s),
that are available for sale from a covered food service establishment and shall include
menus distributed or provided outside of the establishment, specialty menus, such as drink
and dessert menu, drive-thru and online menus;
10982


f. Menu Board refers to any list or pictorial display of a food item or items and their price(s) 
posted in and visible within a covered food service establishment; and 
 
g. Standard Menu Item refers to any individual food item or combination of food items that 
is routinely listed on a menu or menu board, or routinely offered for sale by a covered food 
service establishment. 
 
Section 3. Disclosure of Calorie and Nutritional Information. - Covered food 
establishments shall disclose and display the calorie content information of each standard menu 
item on their menus and menu boards as usually prepared and sold to the public. The calorie 
content information must be prominently and distinctly displayed adjacent to the name or price of 
the menu item in a type size no smaller than that of the name or price of the menu item, whichever 
is smaller. 
 
Food establishments offering self-service food and food-on-display shall post the nutrient 
content information of such food on a sign adjacent to such. 
 
In addition, menu and menu boards of all covered establishments must prominently display 
the following: "Additional nutritional information available upon request." Such statements must 
appear prominently on the bottom of the menu board and may also be placed on signs, posters, 
tray liners, counter cards, handouts, binders, kiosks, or computers, as appropriate. 
 
Upon request, the nutritional information that may be provided to customers shall indicate 
the amount of each nutrient, including, but not limited to, the following: 
a) Total fat; 
b) Saturated fat; 
c) Cholesterol; 
d) Sodium; 
e) Total carbohydrates; 
f) Complex carbohydrates; 
g) Sugars; 
h) Dietary fiber; and 
1) Total protein 
 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the mandatory disclosure and display of calorie 
and nutrition information as required under this Section shall not apply to custom orders prepared 
in a specific manner based on customer's request, temporary menu item which appears in the 
establishment's menu board for less than thirty (30) days per year, general use condiments, and 
foods that are part of a customary market test. 
 
Section 4. Calorie Content Information. - The calorie content information of each standard 
menu item shall be expressed to the nearest five (5)-calorie increment up to and including fifty 
(50) calories, to the nearest ten (10)-calorie increment above fifty (50) calories. For foods that have 
fewer than five (5) calories, the declaration may be expressed as zero (0). 
 


Section 5. Transitory Period and Disclosure Compliance Certificate. - Covered 
establishments shall have a period of one (1) year from the approval of this Act to comply with the 
requirements provided under this Act. Thereafter, all covered establishments shall obtain a 
Nutritional Disclosure Compliance Certificate (NDCC) from the Department of Health (DOH). 
The NDCC shall be valid for two (2) years from the date of issuance and may be renewed at least 
thirty (30) days before its expiration. The DOH may refuse to renew the NDCC of a covered 
establishment in the event of violation of, or non-compliance with, any provisions of this Act. 
Failure of any restaurant or fast-food chain establishment covered under this Act to secure 
a NDCC shall be a ground for the suspension or revocation of its license to operate. 
For this purpose, the DOH, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry 
(DTI), shall actively conduct information dissemination campaigns to assist covered 
establishments in complying with the NDCC requirement. 
Section 6. Penalties. - DOH after notice and hearing, shall impose a fine of not less than 
Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) but not more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(P250,000.00) upon any covered establishment that fail to comply with the requirements under 
this Act, or that is found to have knowingly declared false or inaccurate nutrition information 
regarding the amount of calories or nutrients contained in each standard menu item. 
Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DOH, FDA, and DTI, in consultation with other government agencies 
and relevant stakeholders, shall issue the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of 
this Act. 
Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or any part thereof shall be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions, as far as they are separable, shall remain 
in force and effect. 
Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly. 
Section 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,