Restaurant menus: added sugar warnings

The law gives customers an at-a-glance warning when a standard menu beverage meets or exceeds 100% of the FDA daily value for added sugar per serving.

What the law does ​

• Requires a sugar-cube-in-black-triangle icon immediately next to each covered high-added-sugar beverage and applicable size.
• Requires a clear, conspicuous explanation that the icon means the beverage contains or exceeds the total daily recommended limit for added sugar.
• Requires disclosures on drive-through menus and, additionally, on physical or digital menus; restaurants using digital disclosure must give customers an accessible written alternative.
• Excludes prepackaged labeled drinks, alcohol, temporary test items, customer-customized drinks, and spoon-eaten frozen dairy products.
• Allows enforcement agencies to verify compliance visually or through other reasonable methods.

Who it affects ​

• Restaurants, cafes, and delis that are part of chains with 20 or more locations offering substantially the same menu items.
• Customers ordering covered fountain drinks, blended beverages, and other prepared standard beverages.
• Local health agencies enforcing the California Retail Food Code.