List your menu's nutritional value, restaurants told

Restaurants and hotels could be required by law to show details of their food's calorie and fat content on their menus under plans supported by the Food Standards Agency.

The agency is backing proposals to require all food outlets to list the nutritional details of meals and drinks as part of a campaign to improve the nation's eating habits. Although the plans are at an early stage, the agency said it hoped they would be approved by a new European body and introduced across the EU.

The change would mean every restaurant, hotel, café and fast-food outlet may have to list calories, fat and additive content alongside prices of their meals and drinks. It is likely to be fiercely resisted by the restaurant trade but has already been welcomed by nutritionists, who argue it will help diners to make better informed and healthier choices.

An agency spokeswoman said the idea had been discussed by its officials and was something it would like to see happen, particularly because of a rise in obesity among British adults and children.

"The agency is concerned about the problem and is supportive of anything that would benefit health in terms of food labelling and information," she said. "It is known the agency would support more nutritional information on menus in restaurants but there is not any legislation imminent. Exactly what information has not been discussed yet."

The agency will be backing the idea at the newly formed EU Labelling Review Steering Group, yet to hold its first meeting, and a spokesman said it would require Europe-wide regulations to introduce the new labelling requirements.

Rosemary Hignett, head of labelling at the agency, said: "The agency would like to encourage restaurants and cafés to provide in a practical way more detailed information.

"The FSA is committed to improving food labelling in the UK and is actively engaged in this process in Europe."

* Egon Ronay condemned burgers served up by McDonald's and Burger King as "inedible" yesterday, but heaped praise on their chips. The former restaurateur criticised the quality of the meat on offer, saying it tasted as if it had come from "a clapped-out cow" but he described their french fries as "some of the best in the country".