Do you agree with Government plans to introduce calorie counts on restaurant menus?

# 4

Posted: 22/02/2012 10:42

John, As I understand it ordinary restaurants will not be the target. Chains with standardised menus will be the target, mainly I guess the fast food chains. The international chains are already doing it in the States so the work is done for them, seeing as the menu is so standard. There is nothing stopping them putting it on the Irish menus. Maybe they have a fear that people will not buy the bigger size more expensive menu if they see the calorie count. I agree that calorie counting is not the sole criteria for a healthy diet. However, excess calories are the main contributor to obesity, which as we all know is the main risk factor for the diabetics crisis we are facing, which will be a huge drain on already strapped health services. It is surprising how quickly you can exceed your daily calorie count by eating the wrong food. Obesity is preventable and this is just one measure that may help. However, I agree that even of your calorie count is under control, you still need to work on having a balanced healthy diet.

# 3

Posted: 22/02/2012 09:06

Further to the above,the only food that I check (because I love  them) are sausages.

The difference in pork content is huge;example- 57% in one packet 82% in another so I ask myself as in the first case, what is in the other 43%!!

Obesity is rampant not just in this country, but using the window that TV creates, through most of the  developed world. The conclusion I came to is not what we are eating, but what is in what we are eating, and it is for this reason I vote no.

Best regards

simon cullen

# 2

Posted: 21/02/2012 18:29

NO. For two reasons (a) it would be impossible to police in place where ordinary food is served -in a fast food place there would be no problem because each meal is the same and (b) calorie counting is not the best way to monitor a bad diet - the content is more inportant than the calorie count.

This is just a publicity stunt by Reilly, son of Harney, to distract attention from the increasing waiting lists both for A&E and for elective treatment.

# 1

Posted: 18/02/2012 01:57

Making this law may seem a good idea,,, but in reality a meal in a restaurant cannot be compared to a ready meal bought from the freezer section of your local shop.  Do you read the food contents labels on what you put in your trolly ???   well I do, and the FAT content in the various "cooked ham" supplies next to each other on the cold shelf are so different in fat % that you might wonder is it a few slices of fat with a meat content or cooked ham, with added water, crumb coating, sugar ?? salt ?? colouring agent, Msg, preservatives  ect.

I never pass any heed to the fact that some foods are labeled as having ## calories,,, I am too busy checking the fat content, and the salt and sugars

How will the food be tested to see if the cheff has done a good calorie count on each item on the menue ???   will there be calorie police round every corner ?? will it be a law breaking situation if someone orders an extra portion of chips with their "steamed fillet of cod" if there is a bottle of wine involved, how will that be averaged out at a table for 4, if only one person drinks wine ?

How many retired civil servants will be recalled [at contract rates] to oversee and implement this scheme ???

How many peole will be worried at the total count, will there be a limit to what you can eat at one sitting, will you have to get a rubber stamp on back of your hand to say you have your quota for today, in case you drop into the burger bar on the way home from having lunch ????

I would be proposing that known BAD items in general production should have the bad ingredients displayed in large print,,,   CoCACola Regular,,, this bottle contains 7 cups of SUGAR...

The part of this proposal I cannot realise at this time, is where does it start and where does it finish,,, it would be more important for everyday food was marked correctly,,, What good is it reading the "guide line daily amount"  on one product, and the goods on the next shelf reading % of carbohydrates, or something no one can work out without having a laptop in their pocket !

This other thing which comes on the telly now and again,,, the "food PYRAMID" who recons out if people are starting at the top, or at the bottom,,, then there is your 5 a day ???    the kid on the telly listens to his mother telling him that sweetcorn is "one of his 5 a day",,,. or is that changed to a tin of beans lately ??.. have we no stuff on the 5 a day list which is not imported,,, What about spuds , or cabbage, or beetroot, even rubarb would be good,,,,,,,,,  how many beans do you need every day, or a calorie count on the sweetcorn, if a tomatoe is good as one of the 5 a day, how big does the tomatoe have to be ?

How many of the workers who now find themselves on the scrap heap, will be eating in restaurants, instead of shopping on the cheap to feed their children ?

I voted YES to perhaps make a bit of work for the leaderless state employees, who now are just waiting for their former bosses on big retirement packages to be re employed on a contract "expert" basis, and do the rip off all over again.

I think the only way things like this can be passed in law should be on a 100% vote from an all party full attendance in the Dail. If every proposal was worded so that it was 100% right, then things like counting calories in restaurants would never be put to question.

Bon Apetit !   Peter 47

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ALL IT TAKES FOR EVIL TO PREVAIL... IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING. Peter 47