State Senate passes restaurant-calorie bill

SACRAMENTO – Some 17,000 chain restaurants around California would have to give patrons calorie information under a measure given final approval Sunday by the state Senate.

If signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bill by Sen. Alex Padilla, a Pacoima Democrat, would make California the first state to require restaurants to display the calorie counts of their menu offerings.

Senators voted 24-13 for the menu labeling measure, SB 1420, which would take full effect in 2011. Padilla said he believes diners will make healthier food choices if they know how many calories they may consume.

“California is poised to become the first state in the nation to tackle obesity with menu labeling,” Padilla said, noting that nearly 16 million Californians are overweight.

Republicans who voted against the bill included Sen. Bob Margett of Arcadia.

“It’s an imposition on restaurants, including added costs, when most people who are managing their weight know pretty well how many calories are involved,” Margett said.

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com