Restaurants and takeaways forced to slap calorie counts on menus in obesity crackdown
RESTAURANT meals will be slapped with calorie labels under radical plans to stop Brits getting fat.
From April next year, ministers will force big chains to provide nutritional data for all food and drinks on their menus.
Restaurant meals will be slapped with calorie labels under radical plans[/caption]And prominent warnings will also be displayed recommending a daily maximum intake of 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 for men.
The controversial new rules will apply to all food outlets, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways, that employ more than 250 people.
Public Health Minister, Jo Churchill, said: “Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for people to make healthier food choices for themselves and their families, both in restaurants and at home.
“That is why we want to make sure everyone has access to accurate information about the food and drink we order.
“These measures form an important building block in our strategy to support and encourage people in achieving and maintaining a healthier weight.”
Calorie information will have to be displayed on all non-prepacked food and soft drinks that are prepared for customers.
The scheme, part of Boris Johnson’s plan to slim down the nation after his own brush with death from Covid, is designed to “help people make more informed, healthier choices”.
However, critics have accused the government of over-regulation.
‘HEALTHIER CHOICES’
The Covid pandemic highlighted the impact that obesity can have on health, with the severely overweight much more likely to die from the virus.
Two in three adults are overweight and one in three children leave primary school overweight or obese.
Earlier this week it was announced cases of type-2 diabetes have doubled to nearly five million in the last 15 years due to the obesity epidemic.
It is estimated that obesity costs the NHS £6.1billion each year.
It comes after the Government launched a fresh crackdown on junk food today in a post-Covid war on obesity.
Part of the Queen’s Speech yesterday was dedicated to fighting weight-gain and making Britain healthier.
Ministers announced a huge push to improve the overall health of Brits in the wake of Covid – with the aim to prevent problems before they emerge.
Ads for junk food that have high fat, salt and sugar content will be restricted from April 2022.
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TV adverts for unhealthy foods will be banned before 9pm, with a total ban online.
An extra £100 million funding is set to go into the Healthy Weight Strategy launched in 2020 – which supports families and kids to maintain a better weight.
Brits will be given incentives and rewards to get them to eat better and exercise more under a “Fit Miles” programmes, with GP support bumped up.