Calorie counts on menus: What do Brummies think about the new measures?

Calorie counts have been added to menus in big pub, fast food, cafe and restaurant chains across England.

The new law requires non-prepacked food - i.e. dishes made at the eatery - and soft drinks to have the calories they contain clearly signposted by businesses that have more than 250 employees.

Restaurants with more than 250 staff will now be obligated to print how many calories are in their menu items.

The new rule intends to tackle obesity by offering people the information to make healthier choices.

But are these new rules a good idea?

We hit the streets of Birmingham to find out what locals think of the new rules.

Speaking to BirminghamWorld, Catalina said: “I mean, I think it’s quite a good idea simply because, you know, a lot of people start caring more and more about what they’re eating and the nutritional values about the food.

“And it’s easier for them to count the protein amount, protein intake on a daily basis and calorie intake, which is nice But, you know, it could backfire as well into eating disorders and stuff. So it’s a bit of a tricky one here. I don’t know.”

Samantha, added: “I think it’s a good idea. You want to know what you’re eating anyway. So you want to know how many calories you consume in, and I’ve got a little one so it’s nice to know how much and what’s in the food really. So yeah, I don’t think it’s a problem.”

Shiro said: “I think it’s a very good idea. Anytime you go to a restaurant, you want to know, is it worth it? Are the calories worth what I’m eating? So I think it’s a very good idea for you to know. In fact, now that everyone is doing calorie deficits. So that will help them to count what they’re eating in a day.”

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