M&B to put calorie counts on Harvester and Scream menus

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is to print calorie counts for dishes on the menus at two of its pub brands - Harvester and Scream.

The UK's biggest managed pub group is one of 18 companies backing a new initiative to give customers improved information when eating out.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) which is spearheading the drive, believes it will help consumers make healthier choices when eating out.

However, critics of the plan have pointed out that it is far easier for companies running chains and serving pre-portioned meals to supply calorie details than it is for independent outlets serving fresh food.

M&B said the information would initially be available in 25 of its pubs. "Supporting this voluntary scheme will enable our menu development team to monitor customer reaction to the wide range of healthy options we serve and therefore expand our commitment to providing good nutritious food in our businesses."

Along with M&B, companies backing the move include Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Pret A Manger, Wimpy and contract catering groups Compass and Sodexo. Retailers including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Waitrose will also feature calorie information on in-store cafe menus.

The FSA said it will conduct research into how customers use the system as well as get feedback from operators on the practical issues and the costs involved, before any wider roll-out of calorie labelling on menus.

FSA chief executive Tim Smith said: "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."

However, Martin Couchman, deputy chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, warned that any move to make calorie labelling compulsory would work against independent pubs and restaurants.

"If a company is producing the same dish to to the same specification day-in and day-out, then it's easy for them to do. It's far more difficult for a business that is is prepearing dishes to order from fresh ingredients.

"We're concerned that the FSA is taking its lead on this issue from health minister Dawn Primarolo, who has indicated that she favours compulsion.

"We have no problem with businesses that chose to give this information, but it would be wrong for it to forced upon those that don't."