Petition · past parliament
Scrap legislation to force restaurants to introduce calorie counts on menus.
Rejected
13 signatures
What the petition asks
This new govt policy which affects businesses employing over 250 staff members will have a hugely detrimental effect on the mental health of those struggling with eating disorders and body dysmorphia. There’s also no evidence that this policy will improve public health.
It’s estimated that 1.25 million people suffer from an eating disorder in the UK and putting calorie labels on menus will only add to the anxiety which such individuals face. Calorie counts in affordable chain restaurants will affect the working class disproportionately. People are capable of making their own decisions regarding the food they eat, and calorie counts will create unnecessary distress particularly for young people facing unfair societal expectations of how their bodies should look.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
Timeline
| 30 Jul 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 3 Aug 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
13
Status
Rejected
Rejected
3 Aug 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.