Carson, CA Public Health Rules: Calorie Labeling (2026)

Covered establishment means a restaurant or similar retail food establishment that is a part of a chain with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name (regardless of the type of ownership, e.g., individual franchises) and offering for sale substantially the same menu items, as well as a restaurant or similar retail food establishment that is registered to be covered under paragraph (d) of this section. Standard menu item means a restaurant-type food that is routinely included on a menu or menu board or routinely offered as a self-service food or food on display. (b) Requirements for nutrition labeling for food sold in covered establishments — (1) Applicability. (i) The labeling requirements in this paragraph (b) apply to standard menu items offered for sale in covered establishments. (2) Nutrition information. (i) Except as provided by paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A)(8) of this section, the following must be provided on menus and menu boards: (A) The number of calories contained in each standard menu item listed on the menu or menu board, as usually prepared and offered for sale. (2) To the nearest 5-calorie increment up to and including 50 calories and to the nearest 10-calorie increment above 50 calories, except that amounts less than 5 calories may be expressed as zero. (3) The term "Calories" or "Cal" must appear as a heading above a column listing the number of calories for each standard menu item or adjacent to the number of calories for each standard menu item.