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You want fries with that calorie count? Fast-food giants put diet data on menu

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Published Date: 07 April 2009
By EMILY PYKETT
FAST-FOOD outlets and high-street restaurants, including KFC, Burger King and Pizza Hut, have agreed to introduce calorie information on their menus.
Cafés in Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Co-op and Waitrose are among the 17 groups that will display calorie information per portion for most food and drink they serve.

The Pret A Manger and Subway sandwich chains and Wimpy restaurants have also signed up to strict criteria set out by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Department of Health. They are joined by Harvester family restaurants, the Chessington World of Adventures theme park and Scream pub restaurants.

Comment: Just another taste of the nanny state

The new rules require outlets to show the number of calories in each portion in writing that is clear and at least as prominent as the product name or price.

By the end of June, 350 outlets including staff canteens run by the Post Office, Unilever and some hospitals, will have printed calorie information on menu boards, paper menus or on shelves. More companies are expected to join the scheme in the coming months.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said yesterday that Sodexo, which runs restaurants and cafes in military barracks, and 7 Day Catering, which runs restaurants in colleges, have also come on board. "People want to easily see how many calories are in the food and drink they order when they eat out," she said.

"This ground-breaking group of companies will help people to know what's in the food they are eating. I want more companies and more outlets to help more people live healthier lives."

Tim Smith, chief executive of the FSA, said: "We are 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."

Julian Hunt, a director with the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), welcomed the initiative and said calorie labelling would help tackle obesity.

He said: "Calorie-per-portion information has been shown to be particularly useful for consumers. We agree with the government that calorie labelling is a natural starting point in the debate about how we improve the food 'literacy' of consumers."

HOW FATTENING?

Kentucky Fried Chicken: Popcorn chicken (large): 477 calories

Pret A Manger: New York Deli Sandwich (salt beef, gherkins, mustard mayo, spinach): 479

Subway: 6-inch Meatball Marinara sub: 520

Wimpy: Halfpounder beef burger: 842

Burger King: Double Whopper with cheese: 960

Pizza Hut: Cheesy Bites Meat Feast Pizza (large, 8 slices): 3,096




Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 06 April 2009 11:14 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Obesity
 
1

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 07/04/2009 00:46:25

A little late in coming is it not? after the appalling diabetes epidemic, to which is made point to, 4.2,..%.

Mind you I doubt for most, that have a little knowledge on what they eat, this will make any difference, as will those that do not care and have no knowledge in what the eat, this will make NO difference, but it may come as a shock if you calorie count!

2

im brian and so is my wife,

edinburgh 07/04/2009 01:05:34
can anyone provide the figures on child obesity,from the 1970s till present day ,as it would make interesting reading ,as in the 70s we only had chippies and wimpey burger joints
now everywhere you look its take away this ,takeaway that
coffee shops everywhere,no wonder waistlines are getting thicker with all this junk food everywhere
lets cut back these shops and see if it does make any difference to kids weights
3

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 07/04/2009 01:55:18


Lesson!,...

... Modreation = No Problem!,

... Abuse = Big Problems!,

Are we all 3years old that we can not see this?

D'oh!!!!!

4

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 07/04/2009 01:59:39


Eeyore, would you like your 'carrot' now?

"D'oh, yes Please"!

5

Julian.,

edinburgh 07/04/2009 02:53:43
Charles,

We can see it all right but some of us are severely lacking in self discipline (as regards diet)
6

blackops,

07/04/2009 05:54:01
They need to also point out it is in regards to the Volume of food being eaten as well - not just what yuo eat.
7

Graeme,

Guagzhou 07/04/2009 07:31:40
It’s all in the education. My children at 11 and 13 years old think fast food outlets especially McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc, are on par with Lucifer. This was not achieved by brainwashing on my part. I just explained to them the truth about the terrible health issues, labour abuse, cartels in raw material farming, supply and purchase, price fixing, packaging, etc. The list goes on. Amazing how quickly they made their own minds up that they did not want to eat in such places again.

If only schools could actually teach.
8

Phil C,

07/04/2009 08:07:23
I am trying to establish a healthy, eco-friendly fast food business in Perth. It's been a bit of a struggle but we're getting there, I think! There's definitely a reluctance by many Scots to try something new or go for healthy options, though visitors love it.

Decades of bad eating (high fat, high salt, high processing) are taking their toll. Another legacy of Labour lethergy! There's nothing wrong with the odd 'bad' food but I do despair when I see so many who seem to think that a greasy sausage roll or fat-laden baguette is worthwhile nosh!

It's up to each individual though. As for educating kids, the schools are trying to do a job. When you see their parents though, you wonder if it's all worthwhile!

9

Horrible Cankers @Cyber Shebeen,

07/04/2009 09:06:22
Yes it is a bit late in the day and there will be those who will not give it a passing glance...how about a wee Government Health Warning film in the fast food outlet?...get some famous faces to gorge on Big Mucks and then keel over clutching their heart...clutching a fag in the other hand?.....
10

Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 07/04/2009 09:52:57
Yet more daft nanny state rubbish....

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

On the whole, no they do not. That is just a lie to justify treating people like idiots.

I really do hope that those responsible for all this get their come-uppance at some point---either in this world or the next.
11

JT,

07/04/2009 12:30:42
When I go out for dinner - as a treat, I dont really care how much calories or fat it has - as long as its good quality and fairly priced then who really cares. If the government want us to eat better, get the supermarkets to reduce the special offers on cakes,crisps and soft drinks. They are on their high horses about alcohol what about doing something about the lack of affordable healthy food stuffs!
12

Adamsky,

Edinburgh 07/04/2009 13:28:02
No one is crediting McDonald's for leading the way here. This has shown calorie count information on its tray inserts for a few years now.

It's far too easy to have a go at the evil fast food chains. I expect that the average chippie or kebab takeaway offers far worse calorific horrors than the standardised portions offered by the chains.
13

frostwyrm,

07/04/2009 14:42:09
Obesity wasn't as much of a problem back in the sixties and seventies, yes, we ate a lot of high fat, high salt, high carlorie meals but, we as children, also expended a lot of energy during the day. We didn't have computers, some people didn' own tv's either so we spent our time outdoors with our friend and imaginations fueling our play, the only time we were inside was when we were at school or sick.
14

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 07/04/2009 14:43:42
Fast food has been proven to be addictive and the salt and sugar and fat contents of Burger King Whoppers with cheese, Pizza Hut deep-dish pizzas, MacDonald's McFish with mayonnaise and tartar sauce (or whatever combination is in their "special sauce") are some of the worst offenders.

Also, here in Canada we are bombarded in supermarkets with specials on fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate bars, frozen deep-dish pizzas, fatty frozen burgers, etc., etc.

The supermarkets are out for their bottom-line and don't care about the health of their customers.

You MUST read the labels carefully and here in Canada we have VERY strict labelling laws that are more extensive and inclusive than those in Great Britain - and easier to read and understand.

Calories are just one factor in making a wise choice towards heart and diabetic health.
15

Mcsnagpile,

07/04/2009 16:45:22
What should be on the menu is the daily % requirement of salt, sugar and fats with type of fats the meal meets. You can have low cal and still have enough salt to pickle a whale and you won't even taste it.
16

Mcsnagpile,

07/04/2009 16:56:41
What has happened to the good old fashioned restaurants where you could get mash and gravy and be creative by making mud pies and castles before eating it, the peas made good port holes. A comparative meal for that was Shephards pie, of course with compulsory over cooked veg. Chips were unpleasant because they got soggy with the gravy. The uniforms were also nice with black dresses and pinnies and a frilly hat. If you were naughty you could put vinegar on your peas. Will we ever become British again??
17

TimW1234,

Ottawa, Canada 07/04/2009 19:31:00
16 Mcsnagpile

"vingar on your peas."?

Apprently an VERY acquired taste.
18

im brian and so is my wife,

edinburgh 07/04/2009 22:37:33
#17
theres a mash shop opposite sandy bells pub in forrest rd
just up from chamber street,i read about it a few months ago and last passed it nov 08
apparently it does serve sausage mash and loads of gravy
dig in
19

Observer,,

Glasgow 07/04/2009 22:50:20
12 If folks knew what went into a donner kebab they would never eat them again. It's yuck before it's cooked, just pure fat with a bit of lamb flavouring.

16 If you're ever in Glasgow go to the Blane Valley - best steak pie you will ever eat.
20

Observer,,

Glasgow 07/04/2009 22:53:00
15 and a lot of so-called savoury foods are packed with sugar. The best thing to do is cook at home from scratch and eat out occasionally.
21

Smooth Operator,

10/07/2009 04:22:50
About time I think.

 

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