Several health groups have commended the move for Victoria to disclose the numbers of calories into their food by major fast food outlets in 2012.

Once people order their food, they will be able to see on the menu or on the display board how many calories come with it.

In an interview with the media yesterday, Victoria Premier John Brumby said the government will push to make it compulsory to reveal the details to help fight the rate of diabetes and obesity.

At least 200 outlets across Australia, or 50 outlets within Victoria will be affected with the new legislation and will have to display the amount of kilojoules in their food.

The reason we are doing this is because we have a runaway epidemic in Victoria, right across Australia, particularly with diabetes, Mr Brumby said.

Currently, there are 270,000 Victorians diagnosed with diabetes, with 20,000 becoming diabetic every year.

This is a runaway train and we need to drag it back - the best way is by healthier eating and giving consumers information about their eating choices, Mr Brumby said.

Meanwhile, health groups in Victoria support the move.

VicHealth chief executive Todd Harper hopes that the move will push other States to follow the plan.

I have no doubt it will be a popular initiative with consumers and hope that fast food outlets that fall under the threshold will voluntarily adopt it, Mr Harper said.

Until now, the fast food companies have managed to keep kilojoule counters off their displays but the time has come to put health first.

Jane Martin, an Obesity Police Coalition senior policy adviser, stressed that clearer labelling on menus will provide consumers an insight on what they are eating.

She added that some kilojoule products that seem to sound healthy are actually unhealthy for the body.

Australia Medicine