Restaurants and caterers to trial menu labelling
Consumers eating out will begin to see nutritional information appearing on menus after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) gave the go ahead to the first phase of a new scheme.
The FSA said it wants to see more consistent nutritional information for consumers and said calorie labelling on menus would be the first step.
Over 50 of the UK's largest catering businesses have been in talks with the FSA over the scheme and FSA chief executive, Tim Smith, said: "We're used to seeing nutrition information when we're shopping and there is no compelling reason why we shouldn't have more consistent information about nutrition when we eat out.
"Providing calorie information is supported by our consumer research and intuitively feels right too - this is the first and simplest step and can only be a good thing for all consumers. The Agency is keen to work closely with industry to see, as a first step, how calorie information can be provided in a clear, effective and simple manner across a range of catering settings."
Research has also been conducted and feedback shows:
- There are consumers already using nutrition information where it is available in restaurants, pubs and coffee-shops to make healthier choices.
- Generally, consumers are happy to have the information saying that it is their choice to use it or not.
- Consumers were clear that simplicity is key – they want to see clear and easy-to-use information at the point they choose what to eat. They do not want to have to ask for it or for it to only be provided on the company's website.
- Consumers want consistency in the information offered to them, making it easier to take healthier options.
- As nutrition information already exists in shops and supermarkets, participants felt that having similar information when eating out was an obvious next step.
- There was support from groups for calorie information at the point of decision as the simplicity of it was appealing.
This qualitative research follows an omnibus survey carried out by the FSA in June 2008, which suggested that 85% of consumers agreed that restaurants, pubs and cafes have a responsibility to make clear what is in the food they serve.
More than 80% of respondents said that nutrition information would be most useful if provided at the point they choose or order food, such as on menus or menu boards.
Words: Clare Riley
« Back to previous page
