Ignoring the fat content in that sneaky Tuesday takeaway or the calories in that bulging burger will soon be impossible as new laws mean the calorie count of all food served in Ireland will be clearly displayed on the menu.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar said the Cabinet approved the move in an effort to stem the Irish obesity epidemic. Nearly two out of every three adults, and one in four children, are now overweight or obese.
“Giving calorie details on menus is a very simple but effective way of encouraging people to choose a healthier option,” he said. “Food options can be deceptive. Some salads contain more calories than a burger meal. But if we make the information clearly available, at the very least people can make an informed choice. It won’t work in every case but it’s a powerful tool which has proved very effective in the US.”
The recommended calorie intake for women is around 2000, climbing to 2500 for men. There is roughly 3000 calories in 1lb of fat, so consuming an extra 500 calories per day can lead to weight gain of more than a 1lb a week.
While health groups welcomed the move, The Restaurants Association slammed the bill as unworkable, saying it would cost every restaurant owner up to €5,000 to put in place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pgPq4FGWfk
If, like us, you’ve had your head buried firmly in the sand when it comes to treats of a foodie nature, here’s a taste of what you can expect to find out:
Indian: Chicken Korma & Pilau Rice: around 1,200 calories
Chinese: Sweet & Sour Chicken Balls and chips: around 1,400 calories
Coffee shop: Large latte and a slice of lemon cake: 660 calories
Pizza: 12″ Pepperoni & Mushroom: 1, 450 calories
Sandwich shop: Toasted Ham & Cheese with a side of coleslaw: 680 calories
Chipper: Battered cod and large chips: around 1,385 calories.
One hour of fast walking burns about 215 calories. We’ll leave the maths to you.
