FSA seeks views on pub menu calorie labelling

The Foods Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking views on how displaying calorie information on menus would work best in practice.

The agency's consultation, which runs to March 11 2010, follows the calorie information trial that ran in 21 food companies during the summer including Mitchells & Butlers brand Harvester.

The aim of a calorie labelling system would be to help consumers make healthier choices when eating out by letting them see the number of calories in the food and drink they order.

The trial investigated the cost and practical issues for businesses providing the calorie information and how customers would use it.

An evaluation of the trial looked at the cost and practical issues for businesses of providing calorie labelling. It also considered how consumers use and understand this information.

The FSA claims any problems encountered by food businesses when setting up the schemes were overcome relatively easily.

The evaluation also claims that customers interviewed said they could imagine using calorie labelling to help them make healthier choices when eating out, while still enjoying their favourite foods.

It also showed that the factors that had the greatest impact on people's tendency to use calorie information on menus were the clarity of the information, people's understanding of calories and engaging consumers by providing tips on saving calories.

The evaluation also suggested more people would look for and use calorie labelling when it was more widespread.

Food Standards Agency chief executive Tim Smith said: "Whether people are grabbing a snack on the go, eating in a staff restaurant or out for a meal with their family — the introduction of calorie labelling will enable them to see what choices are healthier and help them improve their diets.

"It's important that people can judge the nutritional content of what they're ordering. It's great to see that businesses have responded so positively to this initiative," said Jenny Driscoll, Which? food campaigner.

"Now the trial has proven to be successful, the FSA needs to take a lead in rolling out calorie labelling across the UK, increasing the visibility of the information on display and helping people understand how to use it."

The FSA will publish the details of a final scheme in spring 2010.