Eighteen food outlets will soon be displaying calorie information on their menus.

Eighteen major food outlets, including Burger King, Subway, and Marks & Spencer cafes, will be displaying calorie information on their menus for the first time by the end of this month (April).

The initiative is a joint scheme from the government and the Food Standards Agency (FSA), in line with the government’s obesity strategy, ‘Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives – One Year On’, which aims to tackle the causes of obesity in the UK.

Food outlets are important in the fight against obesity as a recent survey by the FSA revealed men and women get more than 20% of their energy from eating out of the home. The aim of the initiative is to allow consumers to make an informed choice when eating out, and to benefit those trying to choose a healthier diet, by displaying calorie information for food and drinks in a highly visible way.

The scheme has been introduced in response to a survey by the FSA last year, which reported that 85% of consumers thought that food outlets had “a responsibility to make clear what is in the food they serve.”

Tim Smith, FSA’s Chief Executive, commented: “We are pleased that such a diverse range of companies has agreed to work with us by introducing calorie labelling at the crucial point where their customers make a decision about what to eat.

“Our aim is to ensure that consumers have better information so they can make informed choices to improve their diet when eating out, whether that is a snack on the go, a meal in a staff restaurant or at a table being served by a waiter.”

The scheme will roll out from the end of April. By June, more than 450 companies will be taking part, though some will be on a trial basis.

For more information, visit the FSA’s website: http://www.food.gov.uk/