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Analysis and Health

Are calories on menus doing more harm than good?

Many restaurants in countries such as England and the US now print calories on their menus, but some researchers question whether this is really tackling their obesity problem

By David Robson

20 November 2024

Calories on menus mean we can no longer pretend that fast food is slimming

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

When you go to a restaurant, you may well be presented with a wide array of dishes, each printed on a menu alongside its calorie content. A chicken burger and fries may come to 1597 kilocalories. Swap the meat for a plant-based substitute, and it could rise to 1746 kcal. Opting for the vegan bacon ketchup adds another 300 kcal.

Since 2022, these calorie labels have been compulsory for any restaurant, café or takeaway chain in England with more than…

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