As part of the government drive to tackle obesity, the Food Standards Agency has introduced a new plan to get high-street cafes, restaurants and shops to show the calorie count on food packaging. While the scheme is voluntary, six major high-street food chains have signed up and from later this year will be showing the calories contained in their food on menus and packaging. It is believed that a further 40 food manufacturers are considering following suit.
The Food Standards Agency is even hopeful that eventually, even high-end restaurants will let customers know the fat content of the food they are ordering. The Chief Executive of the FSA, Tim Smith, said: “I don’t see any compelling reason why we shouldn’t provide that information. If consumers want to ignore it they could, but we would be giving consumers a real choice.”
A survey by a Surrey trading standards agency in 2007 discovered that one in three pub or restaurant meals contained 1,500 calories per serving. Bearing in mind women are recommended to consume 2000 calories per day, it’s quite a hefty amount. There has been growing concern that consumers do not realise how fattening eating out, particularly when picking up something for lunch, can be. Currently around 30% of a household budget is spent on food items bought out, like takeaways or lunches. Many consumers believe that a lunchtime sandwich bought from a shop like Pret a Manger is a healthy option, when in fact some sandwiches can have an enormous salt and fat content. Most firms currently only display calorie content on their websites, if at all.
Pizza Hut has confirmed that it will be trialling calories counters in some restaurants and Macdonald’s – who show the calories on the bottom of their tray liners – have promised to discuss the proposal. It will be interesting to see just how many firms do eventually sign up and whether having the calories more visibly displayed may prompt them to research healthier recipes.