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Health activists urged the government not to "dilute" plans to introduce mandatory labeling of calories in restaurants, fearing that only 520 companies could be included.
The proposals, which are part of the government's strategy to halve the number of people suffering from obesity in children by 2030, aim to ensure that calorie labeling is systematically available. in restaurants, so that the public has enough information to be able to choose healthy wherever it is.
However, Diabetes UK said the proposals could exempt all companies with fewer than 250 employees, which means that only larger chains would be required to introduce calorie labels on menus or at the time of selection.
If this were the case, the charity would have calculated that only 0.3% of the companies involved would be included – about 520 out of a total of 168,040 in the area of accommodation and food services. England.
The government has not yet released the results of a consultation that ended in December.
According to Diabetes UK, his own research suggests that 76% of British adults would like to see calorie information in the menus of all cafes and restaurants, while 75% agree on the same principle when it comes to food. carry.
Obesity is a key risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and one in three children is overweight or obese, according to Diabetes UK.
Type 2 is preventable and reversible. Still, the number of children and youth treated for type 2 diabetes has increased by almost half in four years, according to the health department, which adds that without intervention, more than five million people in the UK -United. will have the condition of here 2025.
Helen Dickens, deputy director of policies and campaigns at Diabetes UK, said: "Exempting 99.7% of companies from its legislation on calorie labeling would be a failure of our government.
"The UK is struggling with an obesity crisis. Urgent action is needed to address this, but if the government does not meet its initial commitments, then the legislation will have much less impact. If the government really wants to fight inequality and help the most vulnerable in our society, it must be ambitious in its efforts to fight obesity.
"The government needs to publish its plans for calorie labeling urgently and ensure that medium-sized businesses are included in their plans – as well as a clear timetable for the implementation of these activities."
Caroline Cerny of Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of more than 40 charities in the health field, Royal Colleges of the Medical Corps and Campaign Groups, said, "We know that calorie labeling on menus can help people choose the healthiest options.
"If the government really wants to reduce childhood obesity, it has to make sure that calorie labeling is for restaurants, cafes and takeaways of all sizes so people have information about the foods they eat, where they choose to eat.
Kate Oldridge-Turner, Policy and Public Relations Officer of the World Cancer Research Fund, said: "We have begun to take positive steps in the UK, such as introducing a tax on sweet drinks last year, to contribute to the health of our environment. that it's easier for people to make healthy choices.
"However, more needs to be done – the government needs to be bold in implementing other policies, such as restrictions on junk food marketing by banning the use of cartoons in all media and subsidies for healthy food – this is paramount for our children. future health. "
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