May 13, 2008

The Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program at California State University, Fresno is co-sponsoring a free public forum Wednesday, Aug. 1, on menu labeling in restaurants and Senate Bill 120, which would require nutritional information be posted in chain restaurants.

It will be held from noon to 2 p.m. in the Kern County Department of Public Health, Education Center, 1800 Mt. Vernon Ave., in Bakersfield.

Dr. Margo Wootan, director of Nutrition Policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the nation’s leading public health expert on menu labeling, will speak.

Co-sponsors include California Center for Public Health Advocacy, American Heart Association-Western States Affiliate, California Optometric Association, Southern California Public Health Association and the Kern County Department of Public Health.

The Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program is the Central California Public Health Partnership’s three-year initiative to reduce obesity and diabetes in the region. The goal is to improve social and physical environments for healthy nutrition and physical activity through advocacy, policy and system change.

The program is administered by the Central California Center for Health and Human Services, housed under the College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State. The project is funded by a grant from The California Endowment.

Because of limited seating, registration is required by e-mailing rsvp.bakersfield@publichealthadvocacy.org.