1. 5 updates

Food makers' calories cut pledge

Seventeen big-brand food companies including Coca-Cola, Subway and Tesco have pledged to cut calories to help tackle obesity.

Live updates

  1. Paul Brand, ITV News reporter

Will you change your eating habits if calories are reduced?

When we asked some of you on thestreet what you thought about the idea to reduce calories in some of thebiggest brand named foods, here's what you thought:

"If the calories went down? I might have more, because they have less calories."

"I just try and eat good things anyway, I don't really look at the calorie count."

"I think it's more about looking at what's in the products, as in the amount of bad nutrition, rather than reducing the calories."

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Critics lay into Lansley's calorie counting health mission

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced that 17 major food companies had all agreed to reduce the number of calories in many food products to help with the war on obesity.

But the plans have been heavily criticised as a gimmick that won't improve health:

"[The strategy] is worthless, regurgitated, patronising rubbish. It is simply telling people what they already know - that they need to eat less and move more - is a complete cop out."

– Jamie Oliver, Chef

"It is shameful that the Department of Health is fuelling an industry game of smoke and mirrors instead of demanding enforceable actions to reduce calorie content.

"Without an end to junk food marketing promotions, these token gestures become totally irrelevant.

"We note that the calorie reduction examples only cover small proportions of companies' products and that big names such as McDonald's, Burger King and KFC are conspicuously missing."

– Charlie Powell, campaigns director for the Children's Food Campaign

Mass calorie cutting mission

Companies that have signed up to the agreement to cut calories from foods include:

  • Asda
  • Marks & Spencer
  • Morrisons
  • Sainsbury's
  • Tesco
  • Waitrose
  • Coca-Cola Great Britain
  • Kerry Foods
  • Kraft
  • Mars
  • Nestle
  • PepsiCo
  • Premier Foods
  • Unilever
  • Beefeater (part of Whitbread)
  • Subway
  • Contract caterer, Compass.

Top firms pledge to cut calories

The agreement will include three quarters of the retail market

Major firms including Coca-Cola, Subway and Tesco have pledged to cut calories from foods to help tackle obesity.

Seventeen companies, including supermarkets, food manufacturers and food outlets, have signed a new "calorie reduction pledge" as part of the Government's responsibility deal.

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