ILOILO CITY — An ordinance passed by the city council just recently offered what could be the biggest push for people on a diet and those trying to lower their carbohydrate intake — smaller rice servings in restaurants.
But the new local legislation also seeks to address the net effect of too much rice on a plate — waste.
The ordinance required food establishments to offer half-cup servings of rice on their menus.
It also mandates a reduced price for the half-serving, which the local law defined as not more than 80 grams based on standards of measurement in the United States.
Cooked long grain rice has 15 grams of carbohydrates per one-third cup and a cup of the same type of rice carries at least 45 grams of carbohydrates.
Conserving rice
The ordinance covers all firms involved in the “preparation, sale of meals, catering services and other related services that serve the consumers, including but not limited to restaurants, canteens, fast food restaurants, cafeterias, carinderias or turo-turo (street stalls).”
Employees of food establishments are required to inform customers of the availability of half-cup rice servings.
City Councilor Ely Estante, author of the ordinance, said the measure was part of efforts to conserve rice and avoid wastage noting that not all restaurant customers were able to consume an entire cup of rice during a meal.
The ordinance also tasks the local school board, city social welfare and development office and city health office with enforcing the ordinance in their annual feeding and education programs.
Penalties
The ordinance sets penalties for violators including warning for the first offense, P3,000 fine for the second offense and P5,000 fine for the third offense.
The business permit of a violating establishment would be suspended in the fourth offense.
In some parts of the country, restaurants offer incentives to customers who would order brown rice which carries fewer calories and is considered to be a healthier alternative to white, or well-milled, rice.