Restaurant chains sign up to healthy eating plan

Six high street restaurant chains Burger King, KFC, Mcdonalds, Nando's, Subway and Wimpy have committed to making changes in their establishments to encourage people to eat more healthily outside the home.

According to The Food Standards Agency, the companies have described some specific projects they will be working on during 2009.

These include working with suppliers to reduce salt and saturated fat levels in best-selling products, swapping sauces, dressings and frying oils for alternatives that are lower in saturated fat, and increasing the number of healthier options on the menu.

Each company has agreed to provide a six month update to the agency on the progress of this work.

Rosemary Hignett, Head of Nutrition at the Food Standards Agency said: "Eating out should be fun and we don't want to change that, but we believe restaurants can help make it easier for us to take healthier choices when dining out.

"These companies' commitments, together with the positive work that many have been doing for a number of years, show just how much is possible. We hope that other restaurant chains will be able to emulate this exciting work."

The agency is also working closely with the largest pub, family restaurant and coffee shop chains, to develop similar commitments.

Words: Maria Bracken

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