Demi
Tue, Aug-28-07, 02:49
The Telegraph
London, UK
28 August, 2007
One meal may contain enough fat for a day
Restaurants and takeaways (in the UK) could be forced to carry labels warning customers about the nutritional value of their meals.
A pilot scheme has been started in which food is given a green, amber or red light according to its healthiness.
The project follows research which showed that some takeaway and restaurant meals contain more calories and salt in one serving than the recommended intake for a whole day.
A pepperoni pizza that was sampled had 3,320 calories - 30 per cent higher than the recommended 2,550 a day for men and 71 per cent more than the 1,940 suggested for women.
The research, conducted in Liverpool, also found a Chinese meal of beef and green peppers in a black bean sauce with fried rice, contained 27.6g of salt - more than four times the recommended daily intake for an adult.
It is hoped that the "traffic light" scheme, which is being piloted at 15 restaurants in the city, will help inform customers and persuade chefs to produce healthier versions of their meals. If successful it could be replicated across the country.
Dave Horsfield, a trading standards officer, said: "Takeaways and restaurants don't have to tell you what is in their meals.
"Consequently, it is very hard for people to make a judgement about what they are eating.
"We like the idea of using traffic light logos on menus to provide information on calories, fat and salt. It is simple and easily understood.
"The context for this is concern about the rising obesity, heart disease and poor health. At the end of the day this is about improving the quality and nutrition of what we are eating.
"Our hope is that we would see a change in recipes by the chefs and a change in what consumers decide to eat."
But the scheme, which remains voluntary at the moment, is likely to meet with resistance from the restaurant trade, particularly the big chains, such as McDonald's, which say they already provide nutritional information.
David Baldwin, of the Restaurant Association, said: "Our members will think this idea is stark staring barmy. It is absolute nonsense.
"It is typical of the meddlers who are looking to justify their salaries. The Government should concentrate on educating people about good food rather than laying more bureaucracy on the trade.
"It is all very well coming up with labels for mass-produced ready meals in a factory but you can't do that with a restaurant meal.
"If you have to conform and repeat the dish in the same proportions every time, you take away the flair," he said.
How a meal may contain enough calories for a day
................................................................................. Fat Salt Calories
Recommended daily intake for men .................................. 95g 6g 2,550
Recommened daily intake for women ................................ 70g 6g 1,940
Beef and Green peppers in black bean sauce with fried rice .. 48g 27.6g 1,382
Chicken tikka masala with keema rice ............................... 104.3g 12.5g 1,913
Pepperoni pizza ............................................................ 160.8g 12.8g 3,320
Fish and chips .............................................................. 129.1g 1.3g 2,476
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/28/nfood128.xml
London, UK
28 August, 2007
One meal may contain enough fat for a day
Restaurants and takeaways (in the UK) could be forced to carry labels warning customers about the nutritional value of their meals.
A pilot scheme has been started in which food is given a green, amber or red light according to its healthiness.
The project follows research which showed that some takeaway and restaurant meals contain more calories and salt in one serving than the recommended intake for a whole day.
A pepperoni pizza that was sampled had 3,320 calories - 30 per cent higher than the recommended 2,550 a day for men and 71 per cent more than the 1,940 suggested for women.
The research, conducted in Liverpool, also found a Chinese meal of beef and green peppers in a black bean sauce with fried rice, contained 27.6g of salt - more than four times the recommended daily intake for an adult.
It is hoped that the "traffic light" scheme, which is being piloted at 15 restaurants in the city, will help inform customers and persuade chefs to produce healthier versions of their meals. If successful it could be replicated across the country.
Dave Horsfield, a trading standards officer, said: "Takeaways and restaurants don't have to tell you what is in their meals.
"Consequently, it is very hard for people to make a judgement about what they are eating.
"We like the idea of using traffic light logos on menus to provide information on calories, fat and salt. It is simple and easily understood.
"The context for this is concern about the rising obesity, heart disease and poor health. At the end of the day this is about improving the quality and nutrition of what we are eating.
"Our hope is that we would see a change in recipes by the chefs and a change in what consumers decide to eat."
But the scheme, which remains voluntary at the moment, is likely to meet with resistance from the restaurant trade, particularly the big chains, such as McDonald's, which say they already provide nutritional information.
David Baldwin, of the Restaurant Association, said: "Our members will think this idea is stark staring barmy. It is absolute nonsense.
"It is typical of the meddlers who are looking to justify their salaries. The Government should concentrate on educating people about good food rather than laying more bureaucracy on the trade.
"It is all very well coming up with labels for mass-produced ready meals in a factory but you can't do that with a restaurant meal.
"If you have to conform and repeat the dish in the same proportions every time, you take away the flair," he said.
How a meal may contain enough calories for a day
................................................................................. Fat Salt Calories
Recommended daily intake for men .................................. 95g 6g 2,550
Recommened daily intake for women ................................ 70g 6g 1,940
Beef and Green peppers in black bean sauce with fried rice .. 48g 27.6g 1,382
Chicken tikka masala with keema rice ............................... 104.3g 12.5g 1,913
Pepperoni pizza ............................................................ 160.8g 12.8g 3,320
Fish and chips .............................................................. 129.1g 1.3g 2,476
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/28/nfood128.xml