NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 738
&!il mmtt 
)
) '22 JUL18 P4 59
RECEIVED BY.
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE DISPLAY OF CALORIE AND OTHER 
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION IN MENUS OF FOOD SERVICE 
ESTABLISHMENTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to UNICEF, obesity affects 800 million individuals all over the 
world, and has emerged as a major risk factor for severe disease during the 
COVID-19 pandemic.1
In the past decade, cardiovascular diseases have been one of the 
leading causes of mortality among Filipinos, which is largely attributed to an 
unhealthy lifestyle. In addition, an unhealthy lifestyle also contributes to an 
increase in body mass index, which in turn, increases the risk for non- 
communicable diseases. According to a 2017 report, there are approximately 
18 million Filipinos who are obese and overweight. In 2016, the Philippines 
spent between US$500 Million to US$1 Billion for obesity-related problems, 
which are largely due to a huge spike in the incidence of related non- 
communicable diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular 
diseases and stroke.2
1 
UNICEF, [..verybody Needs to Act to Curb Obesity, accessible at 
https://www.unicef.orq/philippines/press-releases/evervbodv-needs-act-curb-obesitv {last accessed July 
13,2022).
2 
Business Mirror, Obese Filipinos now ballooning, July 20, 
2017, accessible at
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2017/07/20/obese-filipinos-now-ballooning/ {last accessed July 7, 2019).


It is estimated that, as of 2019, there are around 27 million Filipinos that 
are overweight and obese.3 In Its most recent survey, the Food and Nutrition 
Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology reported that 
at least 28.8% of adults are overweight and 9.6% are obese, with a higher 
prevalence than the national estimate in the highly urbanized cities in the 
National Capital Region.4
Thus, in response to this pressing need, there is a need to create policies 
that would encourage people to have a healthier lifestyle and a mechanism to 
inform them of the calorie content and nutritional information of the food they 
take. With the pressure of work and the family, Filipinos often resort to eating 
out, whose food items usually have more calories, sodium and saturated fat.
To address the problems of obesity and improper nutrition among 
Filipinos and to encourage them to have a healthier lifestyle, this bill requires 
the disclosure of calorie content in menus of food service establishments and 
prominently display this information so that customers will be able to make a 
more informed decision towards a proper and healthier lifestyle. Written 
nutritional information, such as, but not limited to, total fat, saturated fat, 
cholesterol, and sodium may also be provided to the customer upon request.
For this year’s World Obesity Day, the call is “Everybody Needs to Act.” 
At the national level, it is our responsibility to address the causes that contribute 
to obesity, and ensure the health and wellness of our citizens.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought
SENATOR J
L VILLA
UEVA
3 Business Mirror, 27M Filipinos are overweight, obese, March 6, 2022, accessible at 
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/03/06/27m-filipinos-are-overweiqht-obese/ (last accessed July 13, 
2022).
4 DOST-FNRI, Overweight and obesity is top nutrition concern in 8 Metro Manila cities - FNRI Survey, 
accessible at https://www.fnri.dost.qov.ph/index.php/proqrams-and-proiects/news-and- 
announcement/769-overweight-and-obesitv-is-top-nutrition-concern-in-8-metro-manila-cities-fnri-survev
{last accessed July 13, 2022).


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 738
fea senate
fSfficp of t!)c a-ctru'P
•22 JUL18 P4 59
RF.CEiVtO BY;
Introduced by SEI4ATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE DISPLAY OF CALORIE AND OTHER 
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION IN MENUS OF FOOD SERVICE 
ESTABLISHMENTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1
Labeling Act.'1
Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Menu
SEC. 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 
standard 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 
coverea;
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 vselection, and needs no further preparation 
before consumption;


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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;
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.
SEC. 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 statement 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 computer, 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) 
Com Dlex carbohydrates;
g) 
Sugars;
h) 
Dietary fiber; and
i) 
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.


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SEC. 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 (lO)-calorie 
increment above fifty (50) calories. For foods that have fewer than five (5) 
calories, the declaration may be expressed as zero (0).
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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,