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THE NUMBER OF calories in your food will soon be printed on all menus.
The cabinet today approved proposals which will see the drafting of calorie posting legislation.
It will start immediately and should be ready for enactment in 2016.
The proposed laws will require menus – for restaurants, take-aways and all food service outlets - to display the amount of calories alongside the price in the same font size and colour.
It will even include food listed on boards, leaflets and digital menus.
Nearly two out of every three adults, and one in four children in Ireland are overweight or obese.
The Health Minister Leo Varadkar says this presents real risks for health and wellbeing and causes a high percentage of many of the chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Giving calorie details on menus is a very simple but effective way of encouraging people to choose a healthier option. Food options can be deceptive. Some salads contain more calories than a burger meal.
“But if we make the information clearly available, at the very least people can make an informed choice. It won’t work in every case but it’s a powerful tool which has proved very effective in the US.”
There is sufficient scientific evidence to show that the public benefits from information about calories at the point of choice.
Calorie posting is one of a range of measures on obesity planned for 2015. Others include revised Healthy Eating Guidelines and a new Obesity Policy and Action Plan.
Originally published 3pm
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One thing that is necessary with this legislation is that the calorie count should reflect the portion sold. IKEA give nutritional information based on a serving size of half a cinnamon bun, yet sell them whole!
They should also consider a requirement for a breakdown along the lines of Carbs/Protein/Fat. The more you know the better the dietary choices you can make.
Very true. Kellogg’s serving size is about a third of a bowl. I think Coke have 250ml serving size on their 500ml bottle. Not sure I know anyone who drinks half a bottle of coke and saves the rest away for tomorrow.
Juninho_My Mother use to tell us as kids that there was more nourishment in eating the Cornflakes box than there was in the cereal itself.. That was back in the 1960′s before GMO toxin’s were ever heard of.
I eat pretty healthy at home….. So when I go to a restaurant I couldn’t give a fook about calories and fat and stuff like that ….I want to eat what I want to eat …a big burger and chips or a steak with all the trimmings …..why !….because I don’t do it every day that’s why so here’s one person who won’t be looking at how many calories there is on the dessert menu ….bring it on …..
Here here !!
Jesus Christ. Thank God someone said it. Soon you’ll have to have someone to hold your hand when you leave the house.
I think its nice to have someone’s hand to hold.
You right windbag and I’m right with you on that, but as you said in the beginning you eat very well at home, but unfortunately not everyone eats very well at home and mostly eat from take outs!
A lot of people have to eat on the road for work. Or are just too lazy to cook at home. Either way no reason you shouldn’t be able to see what you eat. It’s really hard to eat healthy on the road.
Thank you JM……unfortunately some people are lazy and just pick up the phone and ring a takeaway……. But any 10 year old will tell you there’s nothing wrong with eating a burger or chips or a curry just don’t eat it everyday……
me too, I don;t care how many calories it is on a night out, just that it tastes good, but if I was buying a sandwich or something daily, maybe the calories on that would be good
Just wondering what your interpretation of eathing heatlhy is.When you say eat healthy at home do you mean you don’t exceed your calorie needs for the day or week or month? Choosing the name windbag’ makes md have to question you :)
I don’t know what my calorie intake is for a day or week or month Missyb211…..I just know that I’m not overweight and my “healthy” eating at home would consist of ……chicken with veg ,steak with carrots and potatoes, fish with veg ,spagball …….along those lines and not to much bread……a few pints at weekend….etc,etc,etc
I’d like to see a “high/medium/low” grade on food labels, rather than seeing that it contains “4mg of sodium per 100ml”, etc. Is that a lot of sodium? I’ve no idea.
You ordering seawater?
Yeah, and have it related to other nutritional information as well. For example if an item has a decent amount of fat content, but the fat content is omega 3 acids, and is balanced in comparision to the nutritional value of the meal then that should be considered “green”. Whereas the same amount of saturated trans-fats in a snack food with little nutritional value should be “red”.
Hi Marty, if you look at the Recommended Daily Allowance, which is mandatory, then you will have an idea.
If its low it will say low..
Hmm I guess they could have it like Tesco food. They give the measurement and also colour code it too.
But maybe that is too much information on a menu.
I dunno, we’d have to look up what their definition of high, medium or low is. It doesn’t tell you anything really unless you know that.
Everyone knows mayonnaise is high is fat and low in sugar but people want to know how much saturated fat it contains or want to know is it totally sugar free. That traffic light system is for totally ignorant people who have no idea what they’re eating. Most people can tell if a food is high in sodium by the taste. Pizza is high, ice cream is low, you can taste it. People aren’t that thick.
This is utter madness. I run a small restaurant, I have a menu that evolves and changes regularly, I have daily specials, and several suppliers for fresh products, which will vary in size. It will cost me thousands per year to implement this. I will have to get a lab to take 5 portions of each dish to get an average calorie count and pay as I understand it around €600 per dish for testing. Let’s face it obesity starts at home, perhaps the government should focus on the real and difficult truth of obesity as opposed to this populist vote mongering sideshow. I don’t know anyone who eats out more than a couple of times a week, so why are they not looking at the parents of obese kids as the cause of this problem? Perhaps because it’s a political hot potato (calorie count pending)
More nanny state nonsense.
Or you could spend 10 minutes a day at http://www.caloriecount.com/ to get the info for free.
Why doesnt Varadkar do something about people on hospital trollies ?
Varadkar is a waste of space trying to deflect attention from cases where medical cards have been take off children with cancer .
Add up the ingredients. How hard can it be.
will you not be able to use of of the free calorie count apps, or will there be restrictions on how you can do it? Have you been contacted about it yet by the government or enviromental health?
I think this is a fantastic move. We all know foods that are good and bad for us but realistically there is a huge difference between the amount of calories we think is in something compared to what there actually is. I was New York in November and one cafe in Tribeca had calories displayed on all menus. I would have guessed that the brownie I would have ordered would have been around the 150 calorie mark, it wasn’t that big, it actually had 425 calories. I was gobsmacked.
If even 10% of people change their minds of choosing an unhealthy option because of this change, it will have a significant change on the nations health and the healthcare bill that goes with it in the future.
I had the exact same experience in the restaurant on Ellis Island. I wanted a snack and thought one of their large oatmeal and raisin cookies would be a healthier option than the chocolate chip ones. It turns out that the calories were higher in the oatmeal one and they each had more than 400 calories! I bought a banana instead which would never have happened without the calorie counts.
I had similar shocks when looking at the hot food options. I’m pretty informed about food (and obviously calories aren’t everything) but sometimes you can grossly underestimate the calories in what you’re eating.
It’s the size of things like cookies that are the real problem. Everything is now giant sized. Try getting a scone that’s not the size of a small loaf! But calories are not everything. Artificial spreads have fewer calories than butter but are worse for your health. Supermarkets shelves are full of low calorie products yet we’ve grown fatter. Providing a variety of portion sizes would be as beneficial.
I hate hate hate those giant scones!!! and they are usually a bit on the hard side and doughy, our mammies never made scones like that
Obesity is really an IQ/education thing.
I rarely venture into chippers, supermacs etc. But whenever I do it’s full of fat slobby tracksuit wearers stuffing their faces.
Labelling will help of course but it’s not the cure.
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink
Absolutely agree. I was at my sister’s college graduation and in a room of several hundred people I didn’t notice even one heavily overweight person. Compare that to the types you see floating round Henry St at midday in the week and it’s pretty clear obesity is a class/educational issue.
I don’t think it’s just a class thing. I believe there is a direct link between mental health issues and food issues be it over eating or anorexia/bulimia. This however is not the only cause. Educating people about the effect food has on our health and bodies is also important. I dislike the use of calories to control diet I think the emphasis should be on nutrition so people learn to chose foods rich in vitamins and minerals but also are aware of what the body needs them for.
Maybe in a tiny percentage of cases…
Conversely you are far more likely to become depressed if you are obese.
Its more than IQ/education – bad food also tends to be cheaper.
It is a vicious circle…… that all classes are likely to endure. There is more to mental health than depression, never underestimate the effect stress and anxiety can have on any individual.
@Juninho….
That’s a very generalised sweeping statement there. Almost racialist.
How do you explain our esteemed gentlemen Denis O’ Brien, James O’ Reilly and Michael Noonan being heavy men if what size you are depends on your class?
@Laura calories are possibly the most important part in controlling your diet. It is best to get your calories from nutritionally rich sources, though.
Why people are overweight is complicated. There’s not one cause, it’s based on all sorts of different things. Class, mental health, physical health, genetics, education, job, personality type, personal experience etc all play a role in why people are overweight. Not to mention the fact that a lot of foods that are unhealthy tend to be addictive, with advertising campaigns constantly promoting them to people.
This is a step in the right direction, but it’s not the solution.
@Juninho
Conveniently forgetting the wealthy fat cats who gorge themselves on everything, not just food.
Skink I understand that my point was many others do not. Many diet plans just count calories. For instance I’m allowed a certain amount of calories per day so I can have these 2 chocolate bars and just not have lunch. It’s not a healthy way to do it.
Diet of gravy will do that
Those weight watcher type plans are pure shite. Theyve got the mentality of it all wrong and many people leave there with a bad taste in their mouth. count calories for yourself. Make sure you arent getting into a surplus. You can still have the odd choccy bar every now and then, without having to sacrifice your other meals, but if you do it often you will gain weight.
After years of fad diets and very low calories stuff the only thing that ended up working for me was watching my calories, and not taking it to heart when i slipped up. I’ve lost 27kg since september last, I still have bad weeks, but I just get on with it.
That may seem a bit anecdotal but it really is the only thing that works outside of surgery for long term weight loss goals.
Count calories until you can tell just by looking what something contains, train yourself. Diets Imply that the change is temporary.
Well said Laura.
Diets should be banned. They are a temporary fix to a permanent problem. If you diet, loose 2 stone, and stop your diet you will end up back at square one again. A permanent change to your food intake is needed to slim down. Also, alot of people confuse thirst with hunger.
Increase water intake, walk a little more, cut down on alcohol, remove as much sugar and salt from your food as possible (never add them to your food is a great start) and always remember that the more your food has touched hands or machines from farm to fork the worse it will be for you.
I see a point in this step, however, I am afraid it may affect small cafes and restaurant. I am not sure how they count the calories in prepared food but based on my knowledge I can say that heating and cooking changes calories counts in meat and starches (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2011/12/08/why-calorie-counts-are-wrong-cooked-food-provides-a-lot-more-energy/#.VNNYjtKsWKI).
So if they just add the calories of ingredients used, it will not give the actual calories count of the food on your table. If they use a more complicated system of count, how a small cafe will do it? Pay to some lab to test it? That would cost money and maybe cause closures of small businesses. I am afraid this will not have an effect on big chains. As they sit on pile of cash they can splash on such tests.
Agreed, I believe people aren’t aware of the cost and effort this put on pubs, cafes, big and small restaurants and franchises which must go into calculating each serving of a meal on menu. Labs will be inundated with trying to process all the backlogs of samples unless more open due to demand.
Every new dish a restaurant/cafe/pub wants to offer must first be sent and be burnt or what ever method they use to come to a calorie value or estimation. In the end would a colour code make more sense in ranges of 50 or 100 calories so restaurants can estimate from ingredients? There is also the cost of enforcement officers who will spot check premises and random menu items to verify they conform to their stated calorie value if this is to worthwhile.
If people took 30 minutes to look at charts and inform themselves what food types were high in calories instead of the state required to again nanny them it would be more beneficial to all. Sugars, fats, dairy, sauces etc all things to look out for as indicators.
It’s common sense really!
Burger or grilled chicken?
Caesar salad with a bucket of dressing on it or a salad with no dressing?
Education is what’s needed, not people’s hands being held regarding everything from a can of beer to buying chocolate at the checkout.
Heating and cooking does change the calories but then that info is available already, online. No need to reinvent the wheel. It’s even available on the packets too. Ie pasta and potatoes. Me thinks restaurants just feel threathened by the idea that people will run a mile when they discover the amount of calories in their food. But they wont, they will however ask for a ‘skinny’ meal ie ” half the oil and butter please, if you don’t mind”
People are expecting the customer to guess the calories based on how the meal is described. Surely it’s easier for the restaurant to know than the customer. How do I know how much butter you put in the mashed spuds.
They have this in place in the states and it’s wiped out obesity there !!! Lols
I agree, no more fat people in the USA. It’s the first fat-free country.
I have three big issue with this: firstly, I am a healthy person and I watch what I eat all the time as well as playing sport or going to the gym about 5 times a week so when I go to eat out I don’t want to be reminded of exactly the calories I am eating as that is my treat for the week and will effect my enjoyment of the food.
Secondly, counting calories is not the key to being healthy. There are a lot more factors to consider – protein, nutrients, sugars etc..
Thirdly, from a restaurant point of view, I understand how somewhere like McDonald’s can know exactly what is in each meal as every Big Mac will contain exactly the same thing, but this is not the case for places who either change their meals often, or use fresh ingredients.
A poor proposal all around.
Over and out. X
I agree it will aggravate food avoidance by people with anorexia and bulimia. They will be unable to enjoy a meall without freaking out about the calories
Is it just me … in all the years I’ve eaten in restaurants I’ve only ever seen (nearly) identical portions in fast food places. In any restaurant where they serve ‘real’ food, the portions vary. Let’s say the menu says ‘whole plaice on the bone’ … plaice comes in various sizes, are you some days only getting half a whole plaice because the plaice is too big? Are the potatoes going to be standardised in size? 2 mange tout more and we are out by 5 calories???
Thinking exactly the same Susan. What about carveries or make you own sandwiches? It will only really work for pre prepared food.
Well I’m sure they could find out the nutritional value/ calories or plaice for example per 10 grams or whatever and food could be weighed. The same with carvery or buffet. I think it’s about time. I think we have a right to know what we’re eating.
I think this is a great idea in theory, but a terrible idea for the restaurant trade in general. The costs involved in obtaining this nutritional information is astronomical. Everytime a restaurant wants to change a few items on their menu to stay in season will result in 1000′s euro in costs. Margins are already tight so this will inevitably lead to job losses.
In fast food restaurants this should be implemented of course as their menu rarely changes.
“The costs involved in obtaining this nutritional information is astronomical.” Really? When i cook dinner for my family all i have to do is look at the packages the food came in and add up the calories that way. If calories are not available, all i have look it up online The only cost involved is time.
No really. I would like to know why he says it would cost thousands of euro. Red thumbing with no counter argument is just dumb. I’m willing to learn.
Start with calorie count in pub drinks
A step in the right direction but not enough.
What we really need to know is the breakdown of the nutritional value of foods, carbs, sugars, protein, poly, mono and unsaturated fats etc.
People are being fooled into diabetes by labellings such as “fat free” yet fail to have the same proclamations for the amount of sugars, additives and sweeteners.
People need to wake up to the fact that over consumption of anything is bad, but through fear of fat we are taking in far too much glucose through processed and refined carbs. Leaving the country in a fat sweaty diabetic mess.
@ Gary I agree.. i made similar comments about Diabetes yesterday, that some people took issue with.
So I would expand to say that by promoting sugar reduction we refer to type 2 diabetes (90% of cases) rather than type 1 (10% of cases).
And not all type 2 cases are caused by being overweight and sugar intake. Most of them are related – the figure is between 60% and 80%.
So the link is clear anyway.
The growth in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, that is attributed to increased sugar and fat intake more than any other factor, needs to be tackled.
“The growth in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, that is attributed to increased sugar and fat intake more than any other factor, needs to be tackled.”
What fats are you referring to?
The bad ones!
And who is going to pay for all menus to be changed and printed and tested for all this!! Small business can’t afford to do this, they already struggle by crazy charges(like paying between 350-1200 a year to Dublin corporation to say that you compliant for a grease trap! Why do we need to pay a charge to be compliant!) that the government set! It’s ok for the likes of big cooperation’s like Bk or KFC . just another part of this circus government!
Oh no….. rarely go out to eat but now when I do I have to feel guilty about it!
Hmm… Me thinks restaurants will be changing some of their menus if their high calorie stuff doesn’t sell.
Crazy crazy. If your fat eat less and exercise. Nanny state
agreed. Same with minimum pricing on alcohol. Everyone suffers due to the minority.
Just add a levy on overweight peoples health insurance, and if using a medical card, slap on a fee for any fat related treatment
I think the government are missing the real issue. Most people are obese from eating unhealthily and what they do eat is too much processed garbage food, soft drinks and sweets. All these types of food and drink already have all the nutritional info you need printed on them but people obviously ignore it as it is, therefore making a restaurant display a calorie count for what is an occasional treat for the majority of us therefore seems pointless.
Don’t people enjoy food anymore?
Oh we do. We enjoy it too much.
Restaurant owners say it’s a bad time for changing menus to include calories. When is a good time? Is the only objection to doing this the money it costs to change menus?
I own a restaurant. There won’t be a good time in the near future to implement this. It will put myself and a huge amount of other restaurant owners out of business. Simple.
Not saying it won’t, but genuinely interested how this would put you out of business?
It’s simple economics. I really and truly don’t have the extra cash. I simply can’t afford another out going like this at all. 5000 (it will be more as we change our menus seasonally) off what the business made in this year would have been a disaster. I don’t take a wage yet (I’m 15months open) have borrowed already to open and then again to stay afloat and pay the most crucial things ie wages. There obviously is light at the end of the tunnel otherwise I wouldn’t be doing the hours I am. I think I speak for a lot of other owners that have been kicked for longer than I have… but enough really is enough.
“If they use a more complicated system of count, how a small cafe will do it? Pay to some lab to test it?”
If the likes of a tiny café like Soup Dragon can manage a calorie count for every soup they do, as they’ve been doing for the past year, (menu changes daily and seasonally) then any restaurant can manage it.
It’s not rocket science – there are plenty of online databases, apps, etc.
Guy on the morning this morning complaining “What do I do if I head out to the harbour and they’ve one type of fish for sale but not another, how will I manage specials?” Surely the supplier will be able to tell you the average calorie count per portion of cod, or sea bass? Or take five minutes to check online? Note it down for next time?
Such a dumb measures ! We re chef not dieticians ! How is that going to work on Carvery , specials , restaurant which change menu every day !who do you think is going to pay for that ? Fair enough with the allergens last month but this push a step to far ! Start by banning soda and crisps machine from schools and hospitals , don’t feed your kids with processed chicken goujons chips and takeaways, stop bing drinking every Friday Saturday, go for a walk
When are people going to take responsibility for their own bloody health. If we eat junk and get fat n diabetic it’s the governments fault. If I eat takeaway food 3 or 4 times a week I know it’s muck if I have a Danish with a cappuccino at 8 in the morning I know it’s muck. There’s enough information about food out there now so no excuses. Get off the bus in morning 4 stops early n walk the rest to work. If your fat or unhealthy it’s your own fault not because someone didn’t tell you that a cappuccino is full of calories. You know it’s full of bloody calories. I don’t have time to exercise? Rubbish. We have to get rid of this nanny state rubbish n take responsibility for ourselves n more importantly our children. And all those grannies n grandads out there stop stuffing your grandchildren with sugar filled muck at every opportunity. COP ON BECAUSE YOUR DOING THEM NO FAVOURS.
just because you know, doesn’t mean everybody knows. I would imagine that most people are completely unaware how many calories are in a danish and cappuccino. All this legislation aims to do is make it easier for ignorant people to educate themselves, to take responsibility for themselves.
Totally agree John….less input and more output is the best way to stay healthy.
Absolutely pointless. What in the event of there being 2 seperate chefs in a place, 1 of which who uses an extra spoon of sugar or cream in a recipe? The calorie count is pointless in that case as it’s not accurate.
Menus in the U.S. all have calories etc listed. It does make you think!
Not really because this is a recent change in the states- it would take a long time to see any effect.
How would it work if say your in your local chipper and ask for a bag of chips. Would the calorie count be based on a serving of let’s say 20 chips? Do they have to count the amount of chips every time?
Weight?
Food nazis buy 2 bags, burn one in a calorimeter for imperical data and shit into the other bag so that they can’t enjoy that one either!! ;~}
there would be an average size to a bag of chips per takeaway
Great idea. Should have been done years ago.
Absolutely ridiculous! This will just create more problems and contribute to people ‘obsession’ with food!
obesity is a much more complex issue than the calorie content of food! Why not come up with ideas or ‘bills’ so people can get to the problem of what’s causing their behaviour leading to them being obese! People need to find fulfillment and enjoyment in their lives which will result in them not turning to food for comfort and reassurance no body wants to feel guilty or shame for ordering something in a restaurant!
The calorie content means nothing- what about the absorption of food, the energy used for doing everyday tasks???
It’s going to create more problems! There is total lack of knowledge about nutrition and everyone seems to be a nutritionist these days but wow, Ireland you’re just contributing to the rising number of eating disorders in Ireland!
Instead of going to a restaurant for the social aspect and meet up with friends to enjoy themselves people will be talking about calories etc not ideas, dreams and living! -the thjngs that actually matter in life!
Honest question , How could this be enforced
by using eyes to look at menus?
How is No smoking in bars and restaurants enforced Jonathan?
people who are for it will report places that don’t display the info.
I don’t mean that , I mean if a restaurant states a meal and 400 calories how do we know it’s not 1200 calories
I confess I kind of knew that’s what you meant.
I’m a chef and I can tell you that is would be almost impossible to get the calories in a dish. Maybe a very rough idea but that’s about it.
I have been doing this job for over 10 years in a lot of different establishments and in a few different country’s. Out of the 100s of chefs I have encountered, I can tell you that almost none of them use recipes to make anything, soups sauces curries etc. it’s not like pastry and cakes where everything is precisely measured. It’s based more on individual taste, feel and kind of intuition for want of a better word.
Now whilst most good restaurants will strive for consistency, it will be different depending on the chef. Eg I’m making mash potato. When I make mine I generally tend to use a lot of butter ( bad but tastes good). The next time, a different chef may use far less butter which could result in huge calorific differences.
So my overall point being that whilst restaurants will be forced to put an almost arbitrary calorie number on the menu, it will be hard to trust.
More nanny state rubbish from these idiots in Dail Eireann, first of all they decide to punish us all by doubling the price of off sales even though we already have the highest alcohol prices in Europe, and now they decide to put up the price of a meal by bringing in this stupid law. They honestly haven’t a clue, by all means do it for fast food outlets, but it is not necessary for restaurants.
A good move in the right direction but more education needed. What really needs to be highlighted is the quality of the calorie as opposed to the quantity!
Low calorie meals are in the main high in carbs, low in fat and protein and loaded with sugar, giving you a meal that will ultimately leave you feeling hungry in a few hours and gradually gaining fat around the middle, the most dangerous area of all!
Exactly. And its not all about counting calories, which in some cases just gives people a ceiling to gorge on what they want.
OMG …… That will take all the good out of the joy of eating out. ,
I’m against this idea for small café and restaurant owners as I feel it will impact them financially. However the likes of McDonald’s Eddie rockets etc should have to print.
The encroaching nanny-state in full swing; the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
What business is this of the Government??
It is also a pity that the Journal.ie article, above, made no effort to challenge the posturing Minister Leo Varadkar’s PR spin on the Government’s plan regarding menus in private eating establishments. The article, above, just obsequiously went along with it without even questioning the illiberal, nanny-state mentality which motivated this Cabinet decision today.
Trans Fats content should be stated on all processed food. Denmark and Switzerland banned Trans Fats in 2006 in their food. Trans Fats causes Diabetes Type 2, Obesity and possibly Alzheimer’s Disease. It is an artificial industrial fat designed in 1946. Its molecular structure is different than natural fats in food.
Who goes to a restaurant to be healthy ? By all means educate people about their food. But I would imagine most calorie counts on menus in choppers and the like are massively inaccurate or misleading
Waste of time. Only diet fanatics have a clue what all that (deliberately) confusing calorie info and food label stuff means.
The simple color flag system would make more sense to flag whether something is low, med, or high in salt etc.,
- a system the food companies of course rejected.
That’s it, we have become a nation of hypochondriacs who can’t leave the house or sit down to a meal or have a drink or go for a walk or a drive without 101 goddamn warning notices. Get over yourselves before you all die of fright.
How many calories are there in a pensioner on a trolley?
Nanny state legislates for what it can and ducks the real issues. Profit before people at all costs.
How dare those evil politicians legislate so that citizens are made aware of what is in the food they eat.
It’s not good enough, there should so be a carbohydrate content listed on menus.
Carbohydrate / sugar
Lol we need some room on menus to wright … The menu . In between the 13 allergens the calorie count and all the rest it s not a two page menu anymore it s a phone book
There are loads of free websites, apps and databases available to check the calorific value of any foodstuff you can imagine, so cost doesn’t come in to this as an excuse for restaurants.
@Cliodhna Russell
Just wondering where your source for this info comes from:
“Nearly two out of every three adults, and one in four children in Ireland are overweight or obese.”
Guilt tripped now going to te chipper after a few pints
Great idea and why not! I havent been out in 4 months since i started dieting, just because u never know what your eating in all honesty! Ive worked so hard o lose 3 stone doing the ethosien diet would hate to damage it with a few meals out
Lucy Davies likes : coca-cola ,monster energy . Start by getting ride of those . Enjoy a night out every so often you can get no dressing no sauces steamed grilled most of the restaurants would accommodate your dietary requests
Calorie info is of limited use, the likes salt and MSG is the real problem in restaurants and takeway, give us that info
And gm fed meat, where’s that info
Personally I think it’s much more important to know all of the ingredients in the food. Just because a meal is low calorie doesn’t mean it has a high nutritional value.
And this will make people do what? Some people will always attend their keep fat classes,.
Home economics for all in school, information is power!
Just put them on the receipt. Let us get all the bad news at once.
Sugars, fats, carbs, protein, calories, gi, … Never a mention of the real problem… Sodium/salt
Wooohoooo, that’s going to make an enormous difference, I have no doubt.
I am not stupid. I know what has more calorific value. I’m able to make an informed decision. One sure way to spoil my evening out is to have calories on the menu. Butt out spoilsports!
How can it “start immediately” and “should be ready for enactment in 2016″?
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
People sometimes are fat due to medication ,
What a load of absoloute nonsense
They should put a calorie count on the bottom of your shooing receipt too
excellent news, fat people should know what they are doing to themselves
While portion sizes will never be the same??? Anyone calorie counting should not be eating out anyway?
So what happens when you ring and order a take away. Most people use an oldish menu so does the person taking the order have to infirm you of how many calories etc is in that meal .
But if nobody reads them will they still count?
have your say