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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
REQUIRING THE DISPLAY OF CALORIE AND OTHER 
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION IN MENUS OF FOOD SERVICE 
ESTABLISHMENTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the past decade, cardiovascular diseases have been one of the 
leading cause 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.1 
Thus, 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 
1 2017, July 20. Obese Filipinos now ballooning. Retrieved from: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2017/07/20/obese-filipinos-now-
ballooning/ (date last accessed: July 7, 2019). 
October 17, 2022
8:30 am
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pressure of work and the family, Filipinos often resort to eat 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. Written nutritional information may also be provided to the 
customer upon request. This bill requires covered food establishments to 
prominently display this information so that customers will be able to make 
a more informed decision towards a proper and healthier lifestyle.   
Hence, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. 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 
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Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Menu 
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Labeling Act." 
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SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the 
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following terms are hereby defined: 
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a) Calorie content information refers to the total number of calories
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per standard menu item, as that item is usually prepared and offered
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for sale;
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b) Covered food establishment refers to any food establishments
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that are part of a chain of fifteen (15) or more food service
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establishments doing business under common ownership or control,
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or as franchised outlets of a parent business, or that do business
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under the same name or that voluntarily register with the Food and
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Drug Administration (FDA) to be covered;
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c) Food refers to a unit serving of ready-to-eat food or beverage for 
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sale in a restaurant or food service establishment; 
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d) Food-on-display refers to food offered for sale that is visible to a 
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customer before making selection, and needs no further preparation 
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before consumption; 
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e) Menu refers to a printed list or pictorial display of a food item or 
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items, and their price(s), that are available for sale from a covered 
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food service establishment and shall include menus distributed or 
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provided outside of the establishment, specialty menus, such as 
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drink and dessert menu, drive-thru and online menus; 
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f) Menu Board refers to any list or pictorial display of a food item or 
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items and their price(s) posted in and visible within a covered food 
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service establishment; and 
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g) Standard Menu Item refers to any individual food item or 
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combination of food items that is routinely listed on a menu or menu 
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board, or routinely offered for sale by a covered food service 
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establishment. 
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SEC. 3. Disclosure of Calorie and Nutritional Information. – 
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Covered food establishments shall disclose and display the calorie 
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content information of each standard menu item on their menus and menu 
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boards as usually prepared and sold to the public. The calorie content 
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information must be prominently and distinctly displayed adjacent to the 
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name or price of the menu item in a type size no smaller than that of the 
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name or price of the menu item, whichever is smaller.  
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Food establishments offering self-service food and food-on-display 
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shall post the nutrient content information of such food on a sign adjacent 
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to such. 
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In addition, menu and menu boards of all covered establishments 
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must prominently display the following: “Additional nutritional information 
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available upon request.”  Such statement must appear prominently on the 
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bottom of the menu board and may also be placed on signs, posters, tray 
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liners, counter cards, handouts, binders, kiosks, or computer, as 
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appropriate.   
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Upon request, the nutritional information that may be provided to 
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customers shall indicate the amount of each nutrient, including, but not 
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limited to, the following:  
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a) 
Total fat; 
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b) 
Saturated fat; 
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c) 
Cholesterol; 
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d) 
Sodium; 
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e) 
Total carbohydrates; 
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f) 
Complex carbohydrates; 
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g) 
Sugars; 
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h) 
Dietary fiber; and 
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i) 
Total protein 
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the mandatory disclosure 
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and display of calorie and nutrition information as required under this 
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Section shall not apply to custom orders prepared in a specific manner 
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based on customer’s request, temporary menu item which appears in the 
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establishment’s menu board for less than thirty (30) days per year, general 
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use condiments, and foods that are part of a customary market test.  
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SEC. 4. Calorie Content Information. – The calorie content 
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information of each standard menu item shall be expressed to the nearest 
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five (5)-calorie increment up to and including fifty (50) calories, to the 
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nearest ten (10)-calorie increment above fifty (50) calories. For foods that 
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have fewer than five (5) calories, the declaration may be expressed as 
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zero (0). 
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SEC. 
5. Transitory 
Period 
and 
Disclosure 
Compliance 
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Certificate. – Covered establishments shall have a period of one (1) year 
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from the approval of this Act to comply with the requirements provided 
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under this Act. Thereafter, all covered establishments shall obtain a 
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Nutritional Disclosure Compliance Certificate (NDCC) from the 
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Department of Health (DOH). The NDCC shall be valid for two (2) years 
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from the date of issuance and may be renewed at least thirty (30) days 
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before its expiration. The DOH may refuse to renew the NDCC of a 
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covered establishment in the event of violation of, or non-compliance with, 
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any provisions of this Act. 
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Failure of any restaurant or fast-food chain establishment covered 
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under this Act to secure a NDCC shall be a ground for the suspension or 
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revocation of its license to operate. 
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For this purpose, the DOH, in coordination with the Department of 
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Trade and Industry (DTI), shall actively conduct information dissemination 
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campaigns to assist covered establishments in complying with the NDCC 
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requirement.  
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SEC. 6. Penalties. – DOH, after notice and hearing, shall impose a 
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fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) but not more 
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than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P250,000.00) upon any 
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covered establishment that fail to comply with the requirements under this 
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Act, or that is found to have knowingly declared false or inaccurate 
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nutrition information regarding the amount of calories or nutrients 
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contained in each standard menu item. 
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SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) 
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days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, FDA, and DTI, in 
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consultation with other government agencies and relevant stakeholders, 
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shall issue the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of 
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this Act. 
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SEC. 8.  Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act or any 
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part thereof shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
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provisions, as far as they are separable, shall remain in force and effect. 
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SEC. 9.  Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
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regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of 
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this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 10.  Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers 
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of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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