The Food Standard Agency (FSA) wants restaurants to carry calorie information on menus, allowing people to choose what they eat based on fat and calorie content as well as taste.

Diners to make healthier choices

The Government want diners to be able to make healthy choices when eating our rather than to choose dishes blindly unaware of a meals calorie and fat content.

Under new plans revealed in November 2008 the Government want restaurants and restaurant chains like McDonalds, Burger King, Nandos, KFC, WImpey and Subway to be totally unfront about the calorie value of every dish, allowing customers to decide whether they should simply choose on taste alone or whether to factor in the calories about to be consumed.

Restaurants have a social duty of care

In a recent FSA study 85 percent of those asked thought that restaurants, pubs and cafes had a responsibilty to make clear what was in each dish served and 80 percent of people suggested that if they knew the food content and calorie content of a meal they may think twice before ordering.

Controlling obesity

The Government is hoping that the publication of meal calorie content in fast food outlets and restaurants will go some way to reducing the obesity problem facing the nation, and NHS, in the UK.