‘Seeing calories could trigger eating disorders’
INTRODUCING calorie information on Guernsey’s restaurant menus could be extremely detrimental to people’s mental health, campaigner Emily Nuttall has said.
Businesses with 250-plus employees in England – including cafes, restaurants and takeaways – have been required to display the information since 6 April.
But some are urging the States of Guernsey not to go down the same route.
Having previously suffered from an eating disorder herself, mental health campaigner Miss Nuttall respects that the issue of obesity needs to be addressed, but argues that introducing calories to menus can cause emotional damage.
‘People recovering from eating disorders go to restaurants to learn to enjoy eating, and to understand that it is okay to eat. Once calories go onto the menus, that can trigger them, and cause them to become emotionally distressed.’
The Little Big Hotel Group owns the Fleur du Jardin, Les Douvres and the Peninsula.
Managing director Charlie Walker said that calories on menus is not something they would be introducing, unless it is enforced by law.
‘Restaurants are supposed to provide an experience and an escape from normal life. Looking at a menu and seeing calories takes that away,’ she said.
‘Seeing calories on menus can be scary and a high risk for certain individuals.’
Although it is understandable that there are certain health reasons for introducing calories on menus, it is already the role of a restaurant to provide high quality, healthy foods, alongside a fun experience for diners, she said.
Miss Nuttall suggested that an alternative option should be introduced, where menus with calories should not be visible, but available should people who wish to have them.
‘It’s about having the option – I fully respect that people need to be careful with what they eat but it is important to be able to accommodate everyone’s needs.
‘Looking at how many calories something has can become very controlling when you are constantly worried about eating too much or too little.’
She said instead of having calorie menus, young people should be educated on having healthy relationships with food.
The Guernsey Press was able to source at least two menus in Guernsey that featured calories – from The St Pierre Park Hotel and the Fermain Valley Hotel, which both belong to the Hand Picked Hotels group.
Attempts were made to contact both hotels.
