Further news on the proposals to get fast-food chains to put the number of calories visibly in their restaurants – eighteen restaurant and catering chains have started doing it. The chains include Pizza Hut, KFC and the sandwich makers Pret a Manger, who will include the calorie count on all food and drink items of menu boards, shelves and paper menus. The websites of most fast-food chains already contain information on the calorie content of their food.
The move is a triumph for the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) who have long been pushing for the move. The chief executive of the FSA, Tim Smith, explained why they believed the change was important: “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”.
In the U.S a similar scheme running since 2007 has had some success and was shown to change customer’s behaviours, leading to 50 to 100 less calories being consumed. However the restaurant industry still has some reservations about the move. Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Industry (which represents 30,000 restaurants and catering firms) felt that the current economic climate made the move risky. "The sector is having its most difficult trading in 40 years and the last thing we want is anything that is an added cost to the business."The next 12 months is not the time for anything like this. We are looking to protect jobs."
Chef, Antony Worrell Thomson – who has first-hand experience of the difficulties facing his industry, after his restaurant empire collapsed amid reports he had failed to react fast enough to the economic downturn – has been very critical of the move, seeing it as a further example of the nanny state. “Why not let people eat their meals in peace?” he asked.
One answer to that might be that people deserve to know that, for example, a medium sized pizza and dessert at Pizza Hut would tip them well over the recommended daily calorie allowance of 2000 and allow them to make informed decisions. A greater emphasis on health has seen some restaurants introduce healthier options to their menus. Pizza Express, a popular nationwide chain, is trialling a new pizza where the middle has been hollowed out and filled with salad.