McDonald’s is among 37 fast-food firms who have signed up to a voluntary agreement to display the calorific content of their meals after Ronald McDonald was branded an “evil influence”.
The government is hoping its Responsibility Deal will help to counter Britain’s health problems. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said that it would help consumers “spot those hidden calories in their favourite foods and keep an eye on their waistlines”.
Burger King, KFC and Pizza Hut have also signed up to the voluntary agreement which came into force this week.
Alison Wetton, founder of Britain’s fastest growing weight loss organisation, All About Weight, who earlier this year said Ronald McDonald is an “evil influence”, accepted the agreement as a step in the right direction.
She said: “The more information that is available to the consumer the better as far as we are concerned.
“Improvements in food labelling can lead to better food choices being made by consumers but it should be stressed that this is a voluntary scheme and fast-food chains such as Subway, Domino’s Pizza, Nando’s and Pizza Express have refused to take part.”
But Dr Paul Gately, a professor of exercise and obesity at Leeds Metropolitan University and adviser to McDonald's, was sceptical. He said: "These sorts of nudge methods won't tackle real obesity."
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