Food Firms Sign Up To Calorie Display Scheme

Fast food restaurants, including Burger King, KFC and Pizza Hut have signed up to a Government-backed scheme to list calorie information on their menus for the first time.

A total of 17 restaurant chains and catering companies have pledged to give consumers more information about what they are eating.

The list of trailblazers, announced today by Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo and the food Standards Agency (FSA) will start displaying the information from the end of April.

The list includes workplace caterers, sit-down and quick service restaurants, theme parks and leisure attractions, pub restaurants, cafés and sandwich chains.

They must show the number of calories in each portion in writing that is clear and at least as prominent as the name or price of the product, display calorie information for most food and drink they serve and print calorie information on menu boards, paper menus or on the edge of shelves.

By the end of June, 350 outlets across the country will have menus carrying calorie information. Even more companies are to join the scheme in the coming months.

"People want to easily see how many calories are in the food and drink they order when they eat out," the Public Health Minister said.

"This ground-breaking group of companies will help people to know what’s in the food they are eating.

"I want to see more companies and more outlets to help even more people live healthier lives."

Chief Executive of the FSA, Tim Smith, also commented: "Our aim is to ensure that consumers have better information so they can make informed choices to improve their diet when eating out, whether that is a snack on the go, a meal in a staff restaurant or at a table being served by a waiter."

(JM/BMcC)