End of the slap-up meal? Food police want ‘calorie caps’ for every restaurant

Plan for smaller portions... and even a ban on appetising SMELLS!

RESTAURANTS could be forced to cut calories and portion sizes in a crackdown on obesity.

In-store shop promotions on junk food could also be banned and even tempting cooking aromas wafting from bakeries could be curbed.

The Scottish Government’s food watchdog has declared war on the industry to improve the nation’s unhealthy diet.

A newly published report by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) warns regulation is now essential, and the Government is preparing to consult on the plan.

All shops and restaurants selling food eaten outside the home are being targeted. The agency has called for ‘calorie caps’ on meals, smaller portions, mandatory calorie labelling on menus and a ban on the in-store promotion – such as twoier for-one deals – of sugary or fatty foods. It also wants restrictions to cut numbers of new outlets, while shops could even be forced to tackle the ‘sensory stimuli’ of the odours of cooked foods high in fat, sugar and salt drifting on to the street.

Otherwise, the agency warns, Scotland’s rate of obesity could soar to 40 per cent by the year 2030.

However, restaurant bosses yesterday reacted angrily to the proposals.

Roy Brett, chef proprietor of Ondine Restaurant, Edinburgh, said: ‘I don’t imagine any diner would welcome calorie restrictions or labelling and neither would the restaurant industry.’

Ross Finnie, chairman of FSS, said the cost of obesity to the Scottish economy is estimated at £2.37billion per year.

He added: ‘There has been progress over the past year to address the deep-seated problems with Scotland’s diet, and positive steps in the right direction.

‘However, moves towards improving Scotland’s diet need to be more rapid, more robust and more effective. The food environment outside the home has a vital role to play in helping people have access to the information and options they need to make health- choices. Regulation would create a level playing field for industry. Without it we face increasing diet-related ill health and unsustainable burdens on the NHS and economy.’

The agency says it recognises the need to support small and medium-sized firms to help them sell healthier products, but it wants to move forward ‘urgently’.

A report to the FSS Board published yesterday states: ‘Obesity is not just a health issue but also a major risk in the sustainability of a productive economy.

‘Changing the food and drink environment in which consumers make their choices is an essential step towards improving diet.

‘The out of home industry, skewed towards provision of less healthy food, must play its part.’

It warns regulation, which would force firms to comply, either through existing or new laws, is needed because voluntary measures alone ‘will not work’.

It wants to work with the Government, as well as local authorities which regulate food outlets, to introduce the measures.

The initiative was welcomed by anti-obesity campaigners, who say the pressure is increasing on ministers to take ‘bold’ action.

But industry leaders said they already promote healthy options.

Dr John Lee, of the Scottish Grocers Federation, said: ‘FSS is not taking into account the part convenience stores play in dietrelated health issues, increasing availability of healthy produce.’

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, of the Scottish Retail Consortium, which represents shops and restaurants, said: ‘Changes to diet alone will not deal with obesity – that requires an approach which covers lifestyle, exercise as well as diet. We are not persuaded there is a case for restricting retailers’ ability to promote their products in a responsible manner.’

Scottish Conservative public health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘This heavy-handed approach would not necessarily change eating habits. Rather than the Scottish Government rationing what people can eat we need to look at wider issues such as lifestyle.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We will set out and consult on the development of our Diet and Obesity Strategy towards the end of this year.’