Restaurants ‘to be told to reveal calories and cut portion sizes’
RESTAURANTS and takeaways could be forced to put calories on menus and see portion sizes slashed in a radical obesity crackdown.
High-calorie dishes and unhealthy children’s meals could even be scrapped entirely under the plans.
The drastic proposals are published today by Food Standards Scotland (FSS), which highlights the impact of the country’s obesity crisis.
However, industry insiders branded the move ‘intrusive’ for businesses and consumers. Politicians warned the country was becoming a ‘nanny state’.
Two-thirds of Scots are overweight or obese and 300,000 have diabetes, which can be linked with obesity.
FSS chairman Ross Finnie said: ‘we recognise the out-of-home sector makes an important contribution to the Scottish economy, but it doesn’t always support a healthy diet.
‘Our proposals aim to shift the food choices available towards those that are healthier.’
He added: ‘we owe it to the younger generation to provide access to healthier options when eating out.’
An FSS breakdown of popular meals shows a portion of fish and chips can contain almost 2,000 calories – a woman’s entire daily calorie requirement.
But Scottish Tory public health spokesman Annie wells said the FSS consultation – Proposals to Improve the Out of Home Food environment in Scotland – risked hurting businesses and robbing customers of choice. She said: ‘Many people simply don’t want this level of intrusion when it comes to making the simple choice of going out for a meal.’
She added: ‘There’s a risk drives like this can get “nanny state” and out of hand.’
FSS is seeking views on whether nutrition information should be ‘mandatory’, saying ‘there may be a case’ for enforcing calorie labelling on menus, shelves, or websites where people are choosing what to eat.
The details of measures to be implemented will not become clear until next year. The Scottish Government is planning a crackdown on junk food promotions such as two-for-one deals, while the UK Government has announced a consultation on calorie labels for food and drink in restaurants, cafes and takeaways.
FSS says it will support businesses with free online tools to assist in working out the calorie content of dishes.
Dr John Lee, head of policy and public affairs for the Scottish Grocers Federation, said: ‘There’s a real danger of creating a hugely complex system of compliance and regulation which businesses and consumers will find baffling, intrusive and difficult to comply with.’
Jim winship, director of the British Sandwich & Food to Go Association, said: ‘Care needs to be taken in reducing portion sizes that this does not result in consumers simply purchasing additional snacks.’
David Thomson, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation Scotland, said its members ‘take their role in tackling obesity very seriously’, adding: ‘Our members are limiting portion sizes, reformulating products and educating consumers about the food they eat.’
Public Health Minister Joe Fitz-Patrick said: ‘we’re looking forward to engaging with all parties in this to improve the food and drink available outside the home and ensuring the changes made will be reasonable and proportionate.’
‘Additional snacks’