04/07/2012

Health Minister Calls For Calorie Labelling On Menus

Food businesses will be given six months to voluntarily introduce calorie menu labelling, or else face the possible introduction of a compulsory scheme, Minister for Health James Reilly has said.

Mr Reilly today backed a called by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) for the introduction by food businesses of labelling showing the calorie content of meals and portions they serve.

Consumers overwhelmingly support the introduction of calorie menus in food outlets, according to a report published by the authority. It shows that 96 per cent of people support calorie labelling in some of all food outlets, while 89 per cent say the information should be displayed beside the food and drink items on the menu. Some 84 per cent of consumers say labelling should apply to alcoholic drinks.

Support for the initiative was significantly lower among food businesses, many of which raised concerns over their lack of expertise in calculating calories, the potential cost, and the time involved in drawing up calorie menus.

The authority says it recognises that food businesses will have to be given technical support in order to overcome these barriers.

(H)


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