a day ago
Restaurant industry ‘blindsided' by government plans to crack down on obesity
The Department of Health and Social Care plans to require restaurants with over 250 employees to report the average number of calories consumed by diners.
These proposals aim to combat obesity, reduce food intake, and encourage large restaurant chains to increase the healthiness of their sales.
UK Hospitality, a trade body, expressed that the industry was "totally blindsided" by the plans, warning of increased costs and further red tape for struggling businesses.
A 2024 study indicated that previous mandatory calorie labelling on menus, introduced in 2022, did not significantly change the number of calories people bought or ate.
Eating disorder charities have voiced concerns that calorie labelling can exacerbate anxiety and lead to harmful behaviours for individuals with eating disorders.
