Takeaway dishes get traffic light warnings

A chicken tikka masala, with its high calorie, fat and salt content, might carry a red logo, while a healthier version of the dish - without the creamy sauce - would score a green.

The scheme, which is being backed by the Government, follows research revealing many takeaway dishes contain more calories, salt and fat than the average adult should eat in a day.

In Liverpool, researchers found a Chinese meal of beef and green peppers in a black bean sauce served with fried rice contained 27.6g of salt - more than four times an adult's recommended daily intake of 6g.

Scroll down for more

A pepperoni pizza contained 3,320 calories - 30 per cent more than the recommended 2,550 for men and 71 per cent more than the 1,940 suggested for women.

A chicken tikka masala with Keema rice contained 12.5g of salt, which is double that advised by the Department of Health.

Liverpool City Council, which carried out the survey, said all three meals amounted to a single order, although some of the portion sizes were so big they could easily be shared.

The labelling scheme will be piloted in 15 of the city's restaurants and, if successful, could be extended across the country from next year.

Chefs will be encouraged to change to healthier ingredients and better quality produce. The Food Standards

Agency and the NHS have lent their support to the idea, which also has the backing of public health officials in Scotland.

They hope the logo system - already used by many supermarkets - will combat rising levels of obesity, heart disease and poor general health.

Principal trading standards officer Dave Horsfield said: "Takeaways and restaurants don't have to tell you what is in their meals.

"Consequently, it is very hard for people to make a judgment about what they are eating.

"We like the idea of using traffic light logos on menus to provide information on calories, fat and salt. It is simple and easily understood.

"The context for this is concern about rising obesity, heart disease and poor health. At the end of the day, this is about improving the quality and nutrition of what we are eating.

"Our hope is that we would see a change in recipes by the chefs and a change in what consumers decide to eat."

He admitted, however, that winning the support of restaurateurs is likely to be difficult.

Many outlets are expected to object to being forced to put a red sign on popular dishes such as fish and chips, indulgent desserts or pate. Major fast-food chains, such as McDonald's, argue that they already provide nutritional information on their websites and restaurant leaflets.

And, because restaurants will not be forced to adopt the logo system, many smaller branches could simply refuse to use it.

Independent restaurants and cafes with seasonal menus could also find it difficult to adopt the scheme.

David Baldwin, chairman of the Restaurant Association, said: "Our members will think this idea is stark staring barmy, it is absolute nonsense.

"It is typical of the meddlers who are looking to justify their salaries. The Government should concentrate on educating people about good food, rather than laying more bureaucracy on the trade.

"It is all very well coming up with labels for mass-produced ready meals in a factory but you can't do that with a restaurant meal.

"If you have to conform and repeat the dish in the same proportions every time, you take away the flair."