Calorie counting on menus should be mandatory for ALL restaurants, pubs and takeaways to save up to 10,000 lives from heart disease, experts say
- Researchers say showing calories on menus can reduce cardiovascular disease
- The rise in takeaways and eating out is thought to be the cause of high obesity levels
Calorie counting on menus should be mandatory for all restaurants, pubs and takeaways after research shows the policy saves lives.
The measure has been introduced as part of the government’s national obesity strategy – but only applies to food serving businesses with 250 or more employees.
Now researchers say more than 9,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease could be prevented if it is rolled out more widely.
In the first estimates of the impact of current calorie labelling, scientists estimate that it will save hundreds of lives by 2041.
But if it were extended to all food stores it would have a significantly greater impact on cardiovascular deaths as well as reducing obesity rates.
Martin O’Flaherty, professor of epidemiology at the University of Liverpool, said: ‘More than one in four adults in England are currently obese, and trends suggest this will increase.
As part of the government’s national obesity strategy, companies serving food to 250 or more employees must list calories on their menu. But there are now calls for smaller cafes and restaurants to do the same
‘Our research estimates that current calorie labeling legislation will prevent hundreds of deaths from cardiovascular disease over the next twenty years; However, a much greater impact is possible if the government were more ambitious in its targets to tackle the obesity epidemic in England and extended the policy to all third-party food companies.”
The rise of eating out and takeaways is widely believed to be one of the main causes of the country’s bulging waistline.
Experts suggest that posting calorie counts on menus can help diners make healthier choices when eating foods they haven’t prepared themselves.
The legislation, which applies to around 18 percent of food businesses, was introduced in April 2022, but campaigners believe it must be extended for maximum public health benefits.
The research, led by the University of Liverpool, found that without any calorie labeling policy, an estimated 830,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease would occur by 2041.
Modeling shows that current policies could prevent around 730 deaths over the next 20 years and reduce the prevalence of obesity in England by 0.31 per cent.
If it were extended to all food businesses in England, it could prevent around 9,200 deaths – almost 13 times as many – and reduce obesity by 2.64 per cent, researchers said.
Dr. Zoe Colombet, lecturer in epidemiology and public health at the University of Liverpool, said: ‘Our results suggest that extending calorie labeling on menus to all English out-of-home food businesses could play an important role in future government strategies to support people to make food. healthier choices to tackle obesity.
‘However, one policy alone cannot solve the obesity crisis in England.
‘We encourage the Government to continue and strengthen the UK’s Obesity Strategy with a wide range of policies, such as calorie labelling, tackling junk food marketing and the soft drinks industry levy, which will both reduce obesity and will limit shocking health consequences. inequality gap in our society.’
WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE?
Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably whole grains, according to the NHS
• Eat at least 5 portions of varied fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables count
• Basic meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably whole wheat
• 30 grams of fiber per day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 whole wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of whole wheat bread and large baked potato with skin on
• Provide some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soy drinks), opting for lower fat and lower sugar options
• Eat some beans, legumes, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish per week, one portion of which is fatty)
• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consume them in small quantities
• Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water per day
• Adults should have less than 6 g of salt and 20 g of saturated fat for women or 30 g for men per day
Source: NHS Eatwell guide