05/02/2015

Plans Approved To Post Calorie Count On Menus

The Cabinet has approved plans for all food service outlets to post the amount of calories of all meals on menus.

The information is to be put alongside the price of all items offered on menus, at the point where the food is ordered, whether at tables or counters.

Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, said: "I am very concerned about levels of overweight and obesity in Ireland. Latest figures indicate that nearly two out of every three adults, and one in four children, are overweight or obese. This presents real risks for health and wellbeing and causes a high percentage of many of the chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

"Giving calorie details on menus is a very simple but effective way of encouraging people to choose a healthier option. Food options can be deceptive. Some salads contain more calories than a burger meal. But if we make the information clearly available, at the very least people can make an informed choice. It won't work in every case but it's a powerful tool which has proved very effective in the US."

Drafting of calorie posting legislation will start immediately and should be ready for enactment in 2016.

(CD/JP)

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