McDonald's begins showing calorie count on menu boards in its British restaurants

About 1,200 McDonald's restaurants in the U.K. will this week begin displaying the calorie count of each food and drink item on their wall-mounted menu boards, as part of a government-led program to fight obesity and promote healthier eating, the chain said Sunday.

McDonald's already puts calorie information on its Web site and the back of its tray liners, but this is the first time the figures will be displayed prominently in its restaurants outside the U.S.

The British program is voluntary, and relies on partnering companies to fulfil their health pledges. Aside from calorie labeling, McDonald's has also promised to remove artificial trans fats from its products, although it did not sign up to a salt reduction pledge.