Minister in restaurantscalorie call

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley urged businesses to set a target date by which they will set out the nutritional value of products to their customers.

Mr Lansley said: "Our aim is to give people the help and advice they need to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and I want to make it as easy as possible for them to do that. That's why we're working with industry to bring in calorie information on menus.

"As a nation we are too unhealthy. We cost the NHS billions of pounds a year through bad diet, lack of exercise and poor lifestyle choices. We can and we must improve this."

He suggested the voluntary move as he introduced plans for a network of businesses, health charities and public health experts to help people live "longer, healthier lives".

The group would address the issue of calorie labelling as part of its work.