Fast food outlets agree to counting calories

Fast food firms including Burger King, Pizza Hut and KFC have signed up to a Government-backed scheme to list the calorie content in their food.

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

They have signed up to strict criteria set out by the Foods Standards Agency (FSA), working with the Department of Health.

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 and more companies are expected to join the scheme in the coming months.

So far, the 17 firms that have signed up are: Wimpy, Burger King, Compass Group UK and Ireland, Co-operative supermarket cafes, ISS Mediclean, KFC, Marks and Spencer Revive cafes, Chessington World of Adventures theme park, Harvester and Scream pubs, Pizza Hut, Pret A Manger, Sainsbury’s cafes, Sodexo, Subway, Unilever staff canteens, Waitrose cafes, 7 Day Catering.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: “People want to easily see how many calories are in the food and drink they order when they eat out.

“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.”

Tim Smith, chief executive of the FSA, said: “We are really pleased that such a diverse range of companies has agreed to work with us by introducing calorie labelling at the crucial point where their customers make a decision about what to eat.

“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.”

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