McDonald's adds calorie count to menus

McDonald’s is set to introduce calorie information to its menus throughout its UK restaurants, the Department of Health announced today.

As of Wednesday, the new calorie labelling will allow people to see at a glance how many calories are in their burger, salad, Happy Meal or milkshake.

The information is being introduced to menus in all of McDonald's 1,200 restaurants across the UK from Wednesday.

The move is in response to the Responsibility Deal, the Government's approach to tackling public health concerns.

Other companies to have signed up to the pledge include KFC, Pizza Hut, Pret a Manger and JD Wetherspoon.

The Responsibility Deal is inspired by research showing that calorie labelling makes people more aware of the energy content of their foods and influences the eating choices they make.

With three million meals served at McDonald's across the UK each day, the Government is hoping that the calorie labelling will help people make healthier choices when they are eating out.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “One in six meals are now eaten outside the home and for those meals we often have no idea how many calories we are eating.

“That is why this is such a great achievement by the Responsibility Deal. It will help people spot those hidden calories in their favourite foods and keep an eye on their waistlines.”

Jill McDonald, Chief Executive and President of McDonald’s UK, said: “In March we announced our intention to extend the communication of nutritional information to our customers to include displaying calories on our menu boards across the UK.

"This move, as part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, supports the principles we believe are important: giving our customers clear information to help them make decisions that are right for them and provide a choice on our menu.”