National Restaurant Association

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) serves more than 380,000 businesses, including restaurants, suppliers, educators, and nonprofit organizations. The members of the NRA come from every corner of the restaurant and hospitality industry. The NRA works to improve food safety and security within the restaurant industry. NRA also strives to promote increasing restaurant nutrition information availability and consumer awareness. The association prepares and distributes educational materials, including self-inspection guidelines, safety concerns, OSHA requirements, and fire protection. 

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National Restaurant Association. (1999). Vegetarian Cuisine is in Bloom on Restaurant Menus (available at http //www. restaurant.org/rusa/magarticle.cfm articleID = 324). 

National Restaurant Association. A safety self-inspection program for foodservice operators. Washington, DC NRA, 1988 Sanitation self-inspection program, 1983. 

The fast food industry has enjoyed a phenomenal growth. In 1 955, McDonald s one and only fast-food restaurant was located in Des Plaines, Illinois. In 1992, McDonald s had over 12,000 restaurants, in more than 59 countries, worldwide. The U.S. National Restaurant Association estimates that 45.8 million people eat at fast-food restaurants each day and that the typical American eats 1 out of 12 meals at a fast-food restaurant. 

In America, changing life-styles have contributed to the popularity of eating out, whether it be at a restaurant serving haute cuisine, or a fast-food chain. According to the National Restaurant Association, the average American family spent 39.5% of its food dollar in restaurants in 1983. 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/Environmental Protection Agency. BuildingAir Quality A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers.SfJadd np.on, DC NIOSH/EPA, December 1991. National Restaurant Association. Safety Self Inspection Program for Foodservice Operators, 1988. 

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