The Food Standards Agency (FSA) may soon demand that restaurants and hotels detail the calorie and fat content of food served on their menus.

This is part of a campaign to improve the eating habits of the nation by making everyone aware of the content of what they eat and drink. The FSA hopes the plans will be approved by a new European body and then introduced throughout the EU.

As a result of this change, every restaurant, hotel, café and fast-food outlet would have to list calories, fat and additive content alongside the price of food and drinks.

Consequently, the catering industry is likely to oppose the move as strongly as possible.

A spokeswoman for the FSA said: 'The agency is concerned about the problem [of obesity] and is supportive of anything that would benefit health in terms of food labelling and information. It is known the agency would support more nutritional information on menus in restaurants but there is not any legislation imminent. Exactly what information has not been discussed yet.' The FSA will be backing the idea at the newly formed EU Labelling Review Steering Group.