Consumers in Yorkshire and Humberside greatly under-estimate the number of calories in food, a Department of Health survey has revealed.

The survey of more than 1,700 people across England asked consumers to estimate the total calorie content of typical breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner foods eaten away from home.

On average, those surveyed in Yorkshire and Humberside believed a lunch of a club sandwich with fries and a soft drink would come in at around 680 calories, compared to the 1,052 calories it would typically contain.

The DoH is now calling on restaurants, pubs, cafes, fast food outlets and food retailers in the region to sign up to its Out of Home Calorie Labelling Pledge. This asks businesses to display calorie labelling on menus and menu boards for standardised food and drink, so consumers can make healthier food choices.

So far, 38 food businesses have signed up to the pledge including McDonald’s, Greggs, Harvester and Wimpy.

The UK has the highest obesity rates in Europe and diet-related illnesses cost the NHS £6 billion a year.

Read more on this story in today's T&A