The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued its final rule on menu labeling, requiring food establishments with 20 or more locations to provide consumers with calorie and other nutrition information for standard menu items. The rule is primarily targeted at restaurants but many grocery stores also fall under its jurisdiction. In the wake of the FDA’s action 32 members of the U.S. Senate supported a measure giving grocery stores one year to come into compliance. The rule goes into effect December 1.

“The Senate has spoken,” said Leslie Sarasin, CEO of the Food Marketing institute. “It is time now for FDA to address all the problems supermarkets have raised regarding the grocery industry’s ability to comply with a regulation designed for chain restaurants.”

 Sarasin said if the FDA will not adjust the rule to accommodate grocery stores then Congress should act to give them more time to meet its mandates.