The food delivery platform UberEats will begin displaying calories on menu items early in a bid to “combat obesity”.
From April 2022, food businesses with more than 250 employees will be required to show the number of calories in dishes, something the likes of Wetherspoons already does.
However, UberEats has started rolling out the measure already, in part as a response to the pandemic, the company said.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the health of the nation and the country is accelerating its efforts to combat obesity,” said an announcement.
Sunjiv Shah, general manager for the app in the UK and Ireland, added: “It is more important than ever to focus on our own health in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. We want to empower our customers to make healthier choices.
“This is why we’re giving them the information they need to compare different meals and make an informed decision about what they order.”
The first phase of the launch will see Pizza Hut, Leon, and Burger King add calorie information, with “more restaurants to follow”.
A spokesman told i only “large” food brands will need to provide the details, which is in line with the Government’s strategy.
UberEats quoted research by the Government which estimated overweight and obesity related conditions across the UK cost the NHS £6.1bn each year.
“Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of adults in England are overweight or living with obesity, while one in three children leave primary school overweight or obese,” the delivery service added, citing Government figures.
The MP and public health minister Jo Churchill said: “This is an enormously important step by UberEats, and the restaurants they work with, to help customers make informed choices about the food they eat – well ahead of next April’s deadline. I was pleased to see this action.”
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