Nutrition labelling on the menu

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Posted at 12:02PM, 27 January 2009 by Sue Todd - Food journalist and dietitian

You've just ordered a cappuccino and while you wait for the barista to make it, your eyes are drawn to the cakes and pastries... You're just about to indulge, when you notice on the price tag that the almond croissant contains 350 calories and even the 'skinny' muffin is 500 calories. You decide to wait until lunch.

New plans from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for nutrition labelling in restaurants could soon be helping you to make healthier choices when eating out. An initial voluntary trial offering calorie counts is due to start this summer with a small selection of companies. Pizza Hut and Subway have been the first two to sign up; others have yet to be confirmed.

This new scheme is designed to make us more aware of what we're eating in everyday restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, sandwich bars and takeaways (not in your local Gordon Ramsay). The calories in a dish will be posted next to the name of it and the price, not just on the company website. As part of the drive to reduce obesity, the desired effect is two-fold - that people will choose more wisely and that outlets will offer healthier options.

New York City has pioneered this radical way of making people think twice about what they choose when eating out. Since May last year, chains with more than 15 outlets nationwide have been legally required to label the calorie content of dishes. Early reports by health officials estimate people consume on average 50-100 calories less each time they buy a meal out, while news reports tell of people being shocked by the calorie count of what they were buying, changing their bad snacking habits and choosing the smallest portions.

Even obesity nutritionists find it hard to judge the calorie content of dishes from the description on the menu

Consumer research in the UK has made the FSA confident that people want the information here too. The impact could be significant. One in six meals are eaten out, and they contribute nearly a quarter of our total energy intake. Most people, though, are unaware of the amount of calories in the food, and similar-sounding choices can hit you with wildly varying amounts of calories. Even obesity nutritionists find it hard to judge the calorie content of dishes from the description on the menu. A recent study by the Food Commission tested some experts and asked them to judge which menu options contained the most calories. None of them got all five questions right and only a quarter answered more than two correctly.

So, are you looking forward to getting the information to help you choose your next lunch more wisely and to put the brakes on your little indulgent moments? Or do you want to order your double-chocolate muffin without the guilt-trip?

Comments

Emerald

27 January 2009, 12:19PM
Emerald

I think it's probably a pain for the restaurants, but very useful for us! A couple of times I've bought ready made stuff from restaurants / shops thinking they were the healthy option by looking at the name of the product and its description, only to check later and find out they were not really that healthy after all. If I really wanted a double-choc muffin, I wouldn't be put off though, just be more aware of the choice I'd made.

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AdrianB

27 January 2009, 2:23PM
AdrianB

I think there's a fine line to be drawn here between the "control" that bodies like the FSA would like to be able to impose (even if their motive is admirable) and the "creativity" that chefs may want to exercise when preparing meals. "Ah this seared cod needs some extra oil in the pan or butter - but I can't add that as I have to hit 350 calories per portion," is not going to work in some restaurants. It's interesting to see Subway in the USA actually positions itself as a healthy option - you can go on the "Subway-Diet" ... but you won't be getting any mayo or dressing on your sandwich that's for sure. I think most people realise that the grilled sardines are a healthier option than the deep fried calamari when they go out to eat. I'm being negative though - these are issues that need to be addressed. But with common sense too please?

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Heater

28 January 2009, 1:40PM
Heater

I understand the whole reasoning behind this move, but personally I dont like it. When I go out for a meal, it is a chance to treat myself. It is that rare break from my normal eating habits where I will eat 3 courses. Yes, I feel a little twang of guilt after devouring that much food, but it doesn't happen often and I still enjoy it. I don't want these little moments to be tainted with the reminder of how many calories I am eating. For me, ignorance is bliss when eating out. I think about my calorie intake on a regular basis that I like to have a bit of break from it!

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Lily Pig

28 January 2009, 4:36PM
Lily Pig

I think it's a brilliant idea. As someone who has struggled with her weight for the past 20 years, it would help me to make an informed choice when I can't resist the temptation of somewhat 'faster food'. Though I admit, if I'm in a restaurant, I have no wish to know the nutritional information of the food that I may choose to eat. I'm there for pleasure - not punishment.

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Belit

28 January 2009, 8:34PM
Belit

I know muffins and all that have a lot of calories, but I think it would be easier to resist them if the actual calorie count was right in my face as I was making my decision whether to have one. I'm all for it.

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luce

29 January 2009, 11:27AM
luce

I think this is a brilliant idea, because it will encourage reasonable size portions. Often I don't buy the double chocolate muffin because I feel guilty throwing half of it away.

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Aedara

29 January 2009, 12:18PM
Aedara

I don't think the move will effect big eater much, they tend not to care about the calories but it will help those people who are trying to keep healthy because we all know what a pain it is trying to stick to a reasonable number of calories and not having a clue whats in the sandwich we're buying (thats for the ones not in supermarkets I suppose). It could also help with forcing restaurants to make things a little healthier. However it could also have its negative sides for one thing the guilt, another a fear of food for those people who take dieting too far and yes taking the joy out of that restaurant treat.

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Student121

30 January 2009, 9:03AM
Student121

I'm not convinced. I realise that it would be good news for some people, but unhelpful for others! Generally speaking I'm very careful about what I eat, so on the rare occasion that I buy a muffin I don't really want to be accosted by its nutritional value! I reckon we all know that muffins are "bad" but can be nice (and can be justified!) every once in a while. Noting the number of calories next to the price will make indulging too scientific! But maybe that's just me...

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Emily Rickard

31 January 2009, 3:51PM
Emily Rickard

I am completely against this idea. Surely everybody knows that something with a creamy sauce is going to be higher in calories than something steamed? Or that something with chocolate is going to have a higher fat content than a fruit option... To me, stating the nutritional information of every restaurant meal is a promotion of eating disorders and is putting even more pressure on society to be the 'perfect weight.' People should have the freedom to eat what they want and not have to worry about the calories. I appreciate many people want to lose weight, but this has it's boundaries, and this plan is going to the extreme in today's obsession with weight. Eat when you're hungry, get sufficient exercise and hey, you're healthy!

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Samantha

1 February 2009, 6:45PM
Samantha

I'm dropping a few pounds before the spring at the moment and used the Pizza Hut nutritonal info. when on a girlie visit to the cinema this weekend. It helped me plan in advance what I'd eat and fit a pizza into my days calorie allowance, so I think it's a great idea. You can choose to ignore it if you want to and if I did want something that would make me feel guilty, I'd eat it anyway and have a bowl of soup for lunch the next day to make up!!

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luce

24 June 2009, 8:44PM
luce

I think this is fabulous. I love a treat as much as the next person, perhaps more. But I'd like to have smaller ones more frequently. How about a 3 oz. muffin 180 calories instead of a half pounder at 500 calories? Is it really the size I need to make it a treat? Or is it the taste? In an effort to get the calories down, perhaps the portion size will come under control. Let's hope.

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