Stock photo of an overweight man. (PENNSYLVANIA)
By Josie Clarke, Pennsylvania Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Diners will see the calorie content of dishes on menus starting Wednesday as part of a government campaign to combat obesity and improve the nation’s health.
Businesses with 250 or more employees in England, including cafes, restaurants and takeaways, will be required to display calorie information for non-packaged food and prepared soft drinks for customers.
Calories will need to be displayed at the point chosen by the customer, such as physical menus, online menus, food delivery platforms and food labels.
The measures, part of the government’s broader war on obesity, were introduced to help consumers make more informed and healthier choices when eating out or ordering takeaways.
Conditions related to overweight and obesity are estimated to cost the NHS £6.1 billion each year.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of adults in England are overweight or obese, and one in three children finish primary school at an unhealthy weight.
In a Public Health England survey on calorie reduction, 79% of respondents said they believe menus should include calorie counts in foods and drinks.
However, the move has received a mixed response, with one charity warning that the move will negatively affect people with eating disorders.
Tom Quinn, Beat’s director of external affairs, said the eating disorder charity was “extremely disappointed”.
He said: “We know from the people we support that adding calories to menus can contribute to the worsening of harmful eating disorder thoughts and behaviours.
“For example, it may increase fixation on calorie restriction for people with anorexia or bulimia, or increase feelings of guilt for people with binge eating disorder.
“There is also very limited evidence that the legislation will lead to changes in eating habits among the general population.
“1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder and sadly we know that the pandemic has contributed to more people needing support for these serious mental illnesses than ever before.
“Beat has continually called on the Government to consider the impact on people affected by eating disorders and to take an evidence-based approach when creating health policy.
“This should involve consulting physicians and experienced eating disorder experts at every stage of the process.”
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Obesity is one of the biggest health problems we face as a country and clear food labeling plays an important role in helping people make healthier choices for themselves and your families.
“We are all used to seeing nutritional information on products sold in supermarkets, and displaying calorie information on menus can help us consume fewer calories when eating out or buying takeout.
“The regulations will also allow businesses to provide menus without caloric information at the request of the customer.”
