EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. NO. 907
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Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT
MANDATING THE POSTING OF NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION ON MENU 
ITEMS OF FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 1993, the nationwide nutrition survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition 
Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology C'FNRI-DOST") 
showed that 14% of Filipinos 20 years old and above are overweight, while 2.6% 
are obese. Converted to absolute figures, there are 5.7 million Filipino adults who 
were either overweight or obese, and alarming increase of 63% from figures 
from just the 1980s.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and a 2011 survey by FNRI-DOST showed that 
a disturbing 22.3%  of Filipino adults are overweight while 6.1%  are obese. 
Furthermore, studies report that prevalence of overweight Filipinos is still 
expected to increase significantly by 2015, which translates to even more health 
problems ahead. If this distressing trend continues, it is highly likely that more 
will suffer from lifestyle-related, high risk diseases that could lead to potential 
death.
Potentially fatal conditions associated with obesity include Type 2 diabetes, 
coronary heart disease, cancers, and gall bladder disease. As many as 80% of 
people with Type 2 diabetes are obese at the time of diagnosis. Obesity is 
likewise a significant independent risk factor for coronary heart disease or CHD


and is the third most vital predictor of CHD in men. Hypertension is typically 
linked to obesity due to high fat and sodium intake in the diet and insulin 
insensitivity. It has been estimated that the prevalence of hypertension in obese 
patients is nearly three times than that of non-obese individuals. Hyperlipidemia, 
or the increasing quantities of fat in the blood, is common too in obese people as 
a result of high fat intake.
Cancer of endometrium, cervix, ovary, breast, and prostate has been shown to 
be more prevalent in patients who are clinically obese. The frequency of gall 
bladder disease increases as weight increases, with gallstones occurring three to 
four times more often in the obese compared to those with normal weights.
Data also show correlation between excessive body weight and an increased 
incidence of gall bladder inflammation, particularly in overweight women.
As overweight and obesity pose health problems to the country, people need to 
be informed of the risks, prevention, and treatm ent before productivity will be 
hampered by poor health and loss of life.
Recently, some experts recognized Internet addiction, in which individuals spend 
and excessive am ount of time online, as an evolving medical condition. In the 
age of the internet, Tw itter, and Facebook, obesity will continue to rise due to 
the lack of physical activity with the increase of unhealthy eating patterns -  high 
intake of French fries, burgers, pizza, sweetened beverages, junk foods.
Restaurants (herein used interchangeably with "food service establishments" or 
"FSE") have become an important source of daily food intake for Filipinos. In 
fact, fast food retains its position as the largest and the fastest-growing category 
in the Philippine consumer food service industry.


Considering the foregoing, assuring safe and healthy dining options should be a 
top health priority.
Studies report that nutrition labeling works and is supported by consumers and 
leading health experts. In fact, surveys revealed that consumers do read food 
labels where available, and that nutrition information on food labels has caused 
them to change their food purchasing habits.
Nutrition labeling on most food products for sale in groceries facilitates informed 
choice, but consumers lack such essential information to make healthy choices 
when eating in restaurants. Calorie information, if provided at the time of the 
food selection, would allow consumers to make more informed choices. 
Accordingly, this bill proposes to require information on calorie content values of 
menu items be available to patrons of FSEs at the time of ordering.
By mandating the posting of nutritional information concerning restaurant menu 
items' calorie contents, so that such information is accessible at the time of 
ordering, this proposed piece of legislation will allow individuals to make more 
informed choices that can decrease their risk for the negative health effects of 
overweight and obesity associated with excessive calorie intake. The goal is to 
use conveniently available nutrition information in addressing both individual 
behavior and the community environment.
In view of the foregoing, 
the timely 
passage of this 
bill 
is earnestly 
recommended.
, 
—  
MARIA LOURDES W m C i S. BINAY 
Senator


Jiil
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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. NO. 907
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•If AUG 14 P4'-47
RECtiVLDB'*.___
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT
MANDATING THE POSTING OF NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION ON MENU 
ITEMS OF FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Mandatory 
Nutrition Labeling by Food Service Establishments Act of 2019".
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  The World Flealth Organization has now 
recognized obesity to be epidemic. The Food and Nutrition Research Institute of 
the Department of Science and Technology stated that the problem of obesity is 
increasing in an alarming rate in the Philippines where seven (7) out of ten (10) 
women and one (1) out of ten (10) men are affected thereby. The modern 
conveniences brought about by technology have encouraged decreased physical 
activity coupled with an increase of unhealthy eating patterns.
It has always been the policy of the State to protect and promote the 
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Toward this end, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to encourage 
consumer education by making conveniently available nutrition information of 
menu items sold by covered food service establishments.


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Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  As used in this Act, the following terms are 
defined as follows:
(a) Covered Food Service Establishment -  Any food service 
establishment which belong to a group of ten (10) or more 
food service establishments that operate under common 
ownership or are individually franchised, whether nationally or 
internationally, or do business under the same name;
(b) Menu -  Is a list or pictorial display of a food item or items and 
their prices. This includes take-out menus and may include 
promotional signages, posters, and other similar items within 
the establishment, including those positioned at or prior to 
drive-through windows;
(c) Menu Item  -  Is an individual food or beverage item, or 
combination of items, that is listed or displayed on a menu 
board or menu, depicted on any other list of pictorial display, 
that includes prices and is visible with the food service 
establishment; and
(d) Department -  The Department of Health 
Sec. 4. Calorie labeling. -
(A) Calorie inform ation fo r menu items. -  Covered food service 
establishments shall post on menu boards and menus the 
calorie content values (in kilocalories) of each menu item next 
to the listing of said menu item. The term "calories" or "cal" 
shall appear as a heading above a column listing the calorie 
content value of each menu item, or adjacent to the calorie 
content value for each menu item, in the same or larger 
typeface as the calorie content values for individual menu 
items.
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(1) Menu boards. -  On menu boards, calorie content 
values shall be posted in a size and typeface at least 
as large as the name of the menu item or price, 
whichever is larger.
(2) Menus. -  On printed menus, calorie content values 
shall be legible and shall be printed in a size and 
typeface at least as large as the name or price of the 
menu item.
(B) Range o f calorie content values with different flavors and 
varieties. -  For menu items that come in different flavors and 
varieties but that are listed as a single menu item, the range 
of calorie content values showing the minimum to maximum 
numbers of calories for all flavors or varieties of that item shall 
be listed on menu boards and menus for each size offered for 
sale.
Sec. 5. Calculation o f calorie content values. -  The mandated calorie count 
information must reflect the standard preparation of each menu item as served 
to the consumer. The calorie count must be based on a certifiable analysis of the 
menu item, which may include laboratory testing, use of nutrient databases or 
any other reliable procedure of analysis. Calorie labels are to be rounded off to 
the nearest ten (10) calories for calorie counts above fifty (50) and to the 
nearest five (5) calories for calorie counts at or below fifty (50).
Sec. 6. Penalties. -  The failure of any covered food service establishment 
to comply with the provisions of this Act and its Im plementing Rules and 
Regulations within one (1) year from the effectivity hereof shall subject the same 
to the following penalties:


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(a) First (1st) Violation -  A fine of One Million Five Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (Pl,500,000.00) with a warning to comply 
with the provisions of this Act within one (1) year from the 
discovery of the covered institution's failure to comply;
(b) Second 
(2nd) 
Violation -  A fine 
of Two 
Million 
Pesos 
(P2,000,000.00) with a second warning to comply with the 
provisions of this Act within one (1) year from the discovery of 
the covered institution's failure to comply with the first 
warning; and
(c) Third (3rd) Violation -  A fine of Two Million Five Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (P2,500,000.00) with a final warning to 
comply with the provisions of this Act within one (1) year from 
the discovery of the covered institution's failure to comply with 
the second warning and possible revocation of business permit 
to operate within the concerned local government unit.
The fines imposed under this provision shall be paid to the Department, 
which shall utilize the same to initiate and execute campaigns relating to 
nutrition education in public schools.
Sec. 7. Im plem enting Rules and Regulations. -  The Department, in 
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department 
of Finance, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Department of Labor and 
Employment, shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations within 
ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act.
Sec. 
8. 
Repealing Clause. -  All 
laws, 
decrees, 
orders, 
rules and 
regulations, or portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly.


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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. -  Should any part or provision of this Act be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not 
otherwise affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 10. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,