Placing calorie counts on menus is achievable with good planning,  Mary Daly said as her company rebranded to The Food Safety Company at the Hospitality Expo in the RDS.

 

The food safety expert is predicting that 2016 will see customers demand healthier foods than ever before, with a continued demand for gluten, sugar and lactose free foods.

 

Introducing the new brand Mary said: “Nearly two thirds of us are either obese or overweight and the World Health Organisation estimates Ireland will be the most obese country in the world by 2030 if we don’t change our eating habits. Thankfully customers are becoming aware and requesting healthier foods, so restaurants and food manufacturers may have to innovate their menu offerings. Food producers also have a responsibility to educate their customers, and although it may be time consuming for some restaurants it is vital to the health of the Irish people.”

 

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney TD said: “The rich produce of Ireland is something we can all enjoy, but it’s vital that this quality is not compromised when moving from the farm to the table. Restaurants and kitchens around the country have a duty to prepare food safely, and I welcome the good work of The Food Safety Company in promoting these practices.”

 

The Food Safety Company offers a cost effective nutritional-label review service for food producers and assists restaurants with calorie posting.

 

T.G.I. Fridays has introduced a colour-coded healthy menu. Starbucks and Costa have teamed up with Chopped and Pod respectively to offer a healthy choice to their customers and Prêt a Manger now boast 52% of sales are vegetarian foods.