UK councils urge pub, restaurant and cinema chains to display calorie counts

Pubs, restaurants and cinema chains should be required to display calorie content in food and drink, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
The LGA, which represents more than 370 local councils, believes that forcing large chains to spell out calorie contents will contribute to lower rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes, particularly in children.
Similar rules already exist in the US. There, chain restaurants and cinemas are obliged to show calorie information.
The LGA believes such measures could be part of a brave and bold strategy to tackle obesity in children, and thereby prevent many cases of type 2 diabetes.
“Pub, restaurant and cinema chains need to be displaying calorie counts so consumers and parents have a more informed choice and a better understanding of how healthy a particular snack, meal or drink is,” said Izzi Seccombe, the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Spokesperson.
“Food and drink with high calorie content is clearly a factor behind obesity, and the subsequent health problems it can cause.
“We want the government to require major retailers to make their customers fully aware of how many calories they are eating or drinking.
“Clear and prominent signs indicating the number of calories in a product should be mandatory.
“We need to take bold actions in changing environment if we are to beat obesity, and that includes when we’re sitting at a table in a restaurant reading a menu or ordering at the counter.”