Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 641: To ask the Minister for Health his plans, if any, to introduce a proposal that restaurants include the calorie content of each dish on their menus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7646/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Late last year I wrote to a range of Fast Food Outlets and cafes requesting they, like their counterparts in the USA and UK, to take part in an initiative to put calories on menus in Ireland. This calorie posting would be done initially in a voluntary capacity. There has been a positive response to my request and this scheme is an excellent opportunity to work with all stakeholders and partners in food service establishments to tackle the ever growing problem of obesity in the Irish population.

Working with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, I launched a public consultation, "Putting Calories on Menus in Ireland," on 2 February 2012, which will help inform how best to provide calorie information to consumers. The consultation period will finish at the end of February and results are expected in April.