Calories on Menus will cost each Restuarant €5,000 to implement – Nanny State proposals are an unnecessary burden on restaurant owners

The Restaurants Association of Ireland is in Opposition to Government approval of Bill Displaying Calories on Menus

Calories on Menus will cost each Restaurant €5000 to implement.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) is extremely concerned at the government’s proposal to introduce calorie information on menus in restaurants nationwide. The Cabinet has approved proposals requiring food outlets to post the information at the point where the food is ordered, whether at tables or counters. Drafting legislation is expected to start immediately and should be ready for enactment by next year.
Chief Executive of the RAI, Mr. Adrian Cummins commented on the legislation. ‘The introduction of calorie information on menus will have devastating effects on the restaurant industry, costing €5,000 on businesses and will have a knock on effect in other sectors.’ The aim of this Bill is to encourage people to choose healthier options and to tackle the growing problem of obesity in Ireland. Mr. Cummins also commented, ‘I urge the government to reconsider this Bill in the interest of the restaurant industry and tourism’.
Mr Cummins reiterated that the Nanny State proposals are an unnecessary burden on the restaurant owners, as the measures would be virtually impossible to monitor.

“How does the government propose that this will be monitored? Will inspectors be paid to eat out in all of Ireland’s 22,000 food outlets and check if each menu has calorie counts on them? Any chef will tell you that menus in restaurants vary from day-to-day and therefore calorie counting would be highly inaccurate anyway.”
The proposed laws will require all menus, including boards, leaflets, digital menus or other forms, to display the amount of calories alongside the price in the same font size and colour. The RAI represents the interests of its members and lobbies on various issues at governments
Calorie counts on menus have already been introduced in the United States, with disastrous results. Five out of six customers paid no attention to the information, according to a study by New York University.

ENDS

For further information contact:
C/o Restaurants Association of Ireland
11 Bridge Court, Citygate,
St. Augustine Street, Dublin 8.