Northern Ireland caterers to start counting calories

Tuesday 6 December 2011

The Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland is launching a pilot scheme encouraging local food businesses to display calorie information where food is sold, such as in restaurants, cafés, takeaways and food shops. This will make it easier for consumers to make informed choices when eating out.

The pilot will run from 1 May to 31 October 2012. During this time, calorie information will be displayed in one or more outlets of the participating food businesses.

Participating businesses will follow principles for displaying calorie information, as set out by the FSA in Northern Ireland:

• calorie information will be displayed clearly and prominently at point of choice
• calorie information will be provided for standardised food and drink items sold
• calorie information will be provided per portion/item/meal
• reference information on calorie requirements will be displayed clearly and prominently

The pilot will be evaluated to consider the practical issues for businesses, as well as to gauge consumers’ reactions and their understanding of the scheme.

A guidance document has been produced, which offers practical advice to assist catering businesses that want to apply voluntary calorie labelling. It’s available at the link below.

For more information on the pilot scheme, please contact: Sharon Gilmore, FSA in Northern Ireland, tel: 02890 417753 or email:Sharon.gilmore@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk