Are Restaurants Lying About the Organic and Local Status of Foods?

"Restaurant diners beware: That local, organic dish you're wrapping your lips around - and paying dearly for the privilege of doing so - may be a fraud. It may not be all-natural, as your menu promised, and it may come from a huge national vendor like Sysco rather than the family-owned farm that the menu touts.

Restaurateurs be warned: If you're caught mislabeling your menu - and chances keep getting greater that if you are, you will be - then you're not only in for your customer's wrath. You may well be "fired" by the very vendors who supply your best ingredients.

Seem like a stretch scenario? It's not. As the Slow Food movement gains popularity across America, terms like "sustainable" and "artisan" are showing up on more Valley menus. It's not uncommon to find this statement at the bottom of many bills of fare these days: "We proudly support local farmers and producers whenever possible."

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