Government could force McDonald’s and Domino’s to make portions smaller or use lower-calorie ingredients ‘to combat childhood obesity’

McDONALD’S burgers and Domino’s pizzas could shrink under Government plans to combat childhood obesity.

Health officials want to slash calories in a range of popular foods — including takeaways, ready meals, and pre-packed sandwiches.

They will work with food makers and retailers to bring about changes from as early as next year.

These could lead to smaller portion sizes or a switch to healthier ingredients such as low-fat cheese, leaner meat or less oil.

Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said: “If we really want to make an indent in obesity rates, we need to target a wider range of foods.

“It will be what manufacturers produce, what retailers sell and also what we buy on the go from big takeaway places like McDonald’s and Domino’s."

Alison added: "It’s probably going to be about cutting the number of calories per 100g of product, which you can do through changing the ingredients — but also possibly through changing product sizes.”

The Department of Health’s £5million Obesity Research Policy Unit at University College London will develop guidelines and a timescale for the radical programme.

It comes exactly a year after the Government launched a controversial Childhood Obesity strategy which will see a tax on sugary soft drinks come into effect from April.

One in three children is overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school.

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Campaigner Caroline Cerny, of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “We look forward to seeing ambitious targets.”

But Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, warned: “I doubt the prices of food will shrink in line with the size of the product — and consumers will quite rightly get annoyed.

“Shrinking products is the easy option but it does nothing to tackle the unhealthy nature of the ingredients. Reformulation is the preferable option.”