She warned the government that the proposals would lead to price rises because of the “significant volumes of bureaucracy” that would be involved.

She said: “Mandatory reporting and set targets with unclear outcomes will only add to the financial burden for such businesses which, in the midst of soaring cost-price inflation, are already battling to keep prices low and quality high for hard-working families wanting to enjoy the occasional treat and meal out.”

Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UK Hospitality

DAVID COTSWORTH

The restaurant trade is struggling with rising costs, as wage, energy and food prices have all increased substantially over the past two years. They are also facing higher taxes after Labour imposed an increase in employer national insurance contributions in the autumn budget.

As a result, many have had to close their doors. In the year to September 2024, more than 1,400 restaurant businesses entered insolvency — a record high, compared with 1,180 over the previous 12 months, according to Price Bailey, the accountancy firm.

Nicholls believes the government should focus on schools instead of restaurants if it wants to deal with the obesity crisis. She said: “The starting point for any effective plan to tackle obesity in the UK must be in schools, by teaching pupils how to cook and by putting food and nutrition back into the curriculum so children can make educated, healthy choices throughout their lives. It cannot be about imposing random, mandatory targets for businesses that will not deliver genuine change — but which will add further red tape and costs.”

The Department of Health said the plans would go out for consultation once the government’s ten-year obesity strategy was published in full this week.

In a foreword to the plans, published at the weekend, the government said supermarkets would be made to curb sales of salty and sugary snacks in favour of fruit and vegetables. It said food retailers risked fines if they did not hit targets.

Sources at the department said the exact rules for restaurants had yet to be decided but they were expected to mirror rules for supermarkets, which will have to cut 100 calories from the average shopping basket.

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Streeting said: “Obesity has doubled since the 1990s and costs our NHS £11 billion a year, triple the budget for ambulance services. Unless we curb the rising tide of cost and demand, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable.

“The good news is that it only takes a small change to make a big difference. If everyone who is overweight reduced their calorie intake by around 200 calories a day — the equivalent of a bottle of fizzy drink — obesity would be halved.”

A source at the Department of Health said the rules were only likely to apply to restaurant chains that employed more than 250 people, the same threshold above which they must include calorie counts on menus.

Last year, research revealed that the policy resulted in customers consuming only 11 calories less per meal.