kJs on menus
NSW food laws require larger fast food and snack food chains to display nutrition information at the point of sale.
Food outlets that need to display kilojoules on menu boards
The laws apply to ‘standard food outlets’ that have 20 or more locations in NSW (or 50 or more locations nationally). Standard food items are defined as:
- ready-to-eat foods (not pre-packaged)
- sold in single or multiple serves that are standardised for portion size and content
- shown on a menu (printed or electronic) or displayed with a price or label.
Examples of typical standard food outlets include:
- quick service restaurants
- pizza chains
- coffee chains
- bakery chains
- ice-cream chains
- doughnut chains
- beverage chains
- salad chains
- supermarket chains.
Certain products sold by supermarkets are also affected by the laws:
- hot chickens
- deli salads
- hot deli meals
- bread/bakery items packed in store (eg cheese and bacon rolls, custard tarts, donuts, whole cakes)
- sushi and sashimi.
Standard food outlets that aren't required to comply with these laws may choose to voluntarily display this nutrition information. However if they do so, the information must be displayed in accordance with the mandatory requirements.
These outlets are required to display the average energy content (expressed in kilojoules) of standard food items as well as the reference statement ‘The average adult daily energy intake is 8700 kJ’.
For more information about display requirements see Fast choices user guide.
Trial products
Standard food outlets that trial new product concepts at no more than 5 stores for no more than 60 consecutive days are not required to display the nutrition information for these items.
Resources to help businesses
- Fast choices user guide (pdf 1.53MB) which includes information on:
- the requirements of the legislation and how businesses can comply
- answers to questions raised by business
- Nutrition information requirements (pdf 45KB)