FSS Response to Cochrane Review of Nutrition Labelling on Menus

Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive at Food Standards Scotland said: “We welcome this Cochrane review, which suggests that including calories on menus could reduce a person’s calorie intake by an average of 8%.

“This supports findings included in our recently updated Situation Report: The Scottish Diet, it needs to change which found that  66% of us agree that cafes and restaurants should display calorie information.

“As well as providing information for consumers buying food in cafes and restaurants, we believe nutrition labelling could also encourage businesses to reformulate their products so they contain less calories.

“While many larger cafés and restaurants do provide calorie information, it can be more difficult for smaller businesses to do the same.  For this reason, Food Standards Scotland has piloted a free web-based calorie calculator, called MenuCal, to help small businesses in Scotland to put calories on their menus.

“We know that food and drink consumed outside the home in Scotland is skewed towards less healthy products such as sugar sweetened drinks and speciality coffees, chips, burgers, cakes and pastries. Food Standards Scotland will be taking forward a new strategy for eating outside the home in Scotland, for public consultation later in the year, and  which will include measures such as calorie labelling.”