Food body calls for smaller cans of pop

The agency has also called on manufacturers to reduce saturated fat in biscuits, cakes, buns and chocolate confectionery and to cut sugar in soft drinks.

Chocolate confectionery and soft drinks are said to be the worst offenders in bad diets and reformulating and reducing portion size would deliver "real public health benefits", the agency said.

The recommendations include reducing saturated fat in some chocolate bars with fillings by at least 10 per cent, in plain sweet and savoury biscuits and plain cakes by at least 10 per cent and in other biscuits and cakes by 5 per cent.

Soft drinks containing added sugar should be made readily available in single portion sizes of 250ml, down from 330ml.

Further recommendations will follow early in the summer on dairy and meat products, pastry and savoury snacks.

The agency said it did not want the 330ml size replaced but wanted consumers to have a greater choice. It also said manufacturers should price smaller sizes accordingly.

FSA head of nutrition Dr Clair Baynton said: "Food businesses regularly review their ingredients and processes, as well as portion sizes, and the aim of these recommendations is to encourage them to consider

how they can play their part in improving public health

by reducing saturated fat intakes, which are a factor in heart disease, and helping consumers to maintain a healthy weight.

"We recognise the excellent work already achieved by many food businesses to make healthier eating easier. But to make even greater progress it's important that everybody gets behind our recommendations on saturated fat, added sugar and portion sizes.

"This isn't about telling people what to eat.

"We want to make it easier for people to make healthier choices – to choose foods with reduced saturated fat and sugar – or smaller portion sizes."

The FSA published its Saturated Fat and Energy Intake Programme in 2008, which outlined moves needed to help consumers reduce saturated fat in their diet and eat the right amount of calories.