FSA signs up six fast-food chains for healthier meals programme
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) will today announce that six leading fast-food chains have signed up to its commitment to providing healthier meals outside the home.
Under the agreement, which follows similar commitments on workplace meals made by the leading contract caterers, Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, Nando's, Subway and Wimpy will outline some specific projects they will be working on during 2009. Although these are different for each company, they share the aim of helping their customers enjoy a healthier, more balanced diet.
The commitments include: working with suppliers to reduce salt and saturated fat levels in best-selling products swapping sauces, dressings and frying oils for alternatives that are lower in saturated fat increasing the number of healthier options on the menu and making nutritional information more readily available to customers. Each company has agreed to provide a six-month update to the Agency on the progress of this work.
Rosemary Hignett, head of nutrition at the FSA, said: "Eating out should be fun and we don't want to change that, but we believe restaurants can help make it easier for us to take healthier choices when dining out. We hope that other restaurant chains will be able to emulate this exciting work."
The FSA is also working closely with the largest pub, family restaurant and coffee shop chains, to develop similar commitments.
Scores on the doors](http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2008/nov/legal)
The FSA has published the preliminary results of its consultation on introducing a UK-wide Scores on the Doors scheme rating restaurants' hygiene levels. The consultation, which took place from May until August of this year, found that the majority of respondents support a nationwide scheme, with more than half (52%) of those questioned representing the hospitality industry. However, while enforcement bodies and consumer organisations favour the use of stars to represent the scores, industry figures have rejected this and are backing a two-tiered scheme listing "pass" or "improvement required".
FSA releases Scores on the Doors consultation >>
FSA reports on healthier workplace meal drive >>
Contract catering's big five push for better workplace meals >>
Operators in menu talks with the FSA >>
By Daniel Thomas
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