- Restaurants employing more than 250 workers will have to report the average number of calories that diners consume
- The government will then set targets to cut customers’ calorie intake
- The restaurant sector heads are upset as they claim they have not been consulted
The Labour government wants restaurants to cut down on calories as part of its plan to fight the country's obesity epidemic.
The restaurants will have to tell the government what their customers order, and the health department intends to use the data to force big restaurant chains and fast food giants to cut customers’ calorie intake.
As per the proposal, restaurants employing more than 250 workers are expected to report the average number of calories that diners consume.
The government will then set targets to “increase the healthiness of sales”.
The restaurant sector heads are upset as they claim they have not been consulted.
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the industry had been “totally blindsided” by the plans.
She warned the proposals would lead to price rises because of the “significant volumes of bureaucracy” that would be involved.
She said the move will add to the financial burden for restaurateurs, who are already battling cost-price inflation.
Nicholls believes the government should focus on schools if it wants to bring about a lasting change in fighting the obesity crisis.
The health department said the plans would go out for consultation once the government’s ten-year obesity strategy was published in full.
The government had earlier said large food retailers will be set a new standard to make the average shopping basket of goods sold slightly healthier.
They will be given the freedom to decide on what works best for them to meet the standard.
The UK has the third-highest rate of adult obesity in Europe, and it is one of the root causes of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
