Pubs and restaurants are serving up food with 45% more calories than a Burger King meal
An average main meal at a pub or family restaurant – such as a Wetherspoon pub or Nando’s – contained an astonishing 1,033 calories, while dishes from takeaway chains had an average of 751.
Worrying findings
Scientists from the University of Liverpool carried out the research and analysed 13,500 dishes from establishments like Hungry Horse and McDonald’s.
By using online company information on calorie content, only one in 10 meals was classed as healthy or with fewer than 600kcal, as recommended by Public Health England.
Shockingly, Greene King's Hungry Horse, which runs 284 pub-restaurants across Britain, has the most calorie-packed food of those surveyed, with an average meal containing a staggering 1,358.
Chains including Flaming Grill, Stone House and Sizzling Pubs were not far behind, with an average of 1,200kcal per meal.
Cause for concern
Health experts say meals should not exceed 600 calories, but in this case, sit-down restaurants were five times more likely to offer high-calorie meals than fast food chains.
Lead researcher Dr Eric Robinson said the findings were a “cause for concern” and added that people are unknowingly eating their entire day’s calories in a single sitting.
“Many people will be surprised how many more calories exist in sit-down restaurant meals,” he said.
“It’s clear what the industry needs to do – they need to act more responsibly and reduce the number of calories they’re serving.”
No excuse
Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality defended the restaurant trade and said firms were already offering healthier dishes for customers.
“Freedom of choice must remain key and it is reasonable for people to treat themselves when dining out, while still controlling their calorific intake,” she added.
Her comments were reiterated by a Hungry Horse spokesperson, who pointed to its new Live Well range with dishes under 600 calories.
Britain is currently in the midst of a major public health crisis, with the third highest rates of obesity in Europe.
A recent report by the World Health Organisation revealed that 28% of British adults are obese.
