According to The Telegraph, the proposals have angered restaurant bosses, who claim they have not been consulted on the measures.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade association UKHospitality, said the industry had been “totally blindsided” by the plans.
“This is really wide-ranging in scope. We really need the Government to start talking to the hospitality sector, not excluding it from these discussions, to make sure that we get the details right. We’ve yet to understand how mandatory reporting and targets would change the obesity situation in the UK.”
The plans are being looked at as part of a broader obesity strategy published by the Government last Friday (27 July).
The document is mainly concerned with the supermarkets and food manufacturers but it does acknowledge that the food adults eat outside the home makes up 20 to 25% of overall calorie intake.
The Government is calling on businesses (especially those with “the broadest shoulders”) to help tackle obesity by providing clear nutritional information; rebalancing promotions to favor healthier options and reconsidering portion sizes in takeaways and restaurant meals (noted to often contain twice the calories of retail equivalents).
The report also reveals that mandatory calorie information is also being considered for alcoholic drinks, including those sold in restaurants, bars, and pubs, and that smaller business may eventually be required to put calorie counts on menus.