THE world’s biggest fast-food firm promised yesterday to scrap its supersize portions in the clearest sign yet that the business is bowing to political and consumer pressure to tackle obesity.

McDonald’s confirmed that extra-large servings of fizzy drinks and chips would be phased out in Britain by December, after a similar decision in America where the firm has faces litigation over obesity. In Britain, supersize portions of Coca-Cola contain 97 more calories than the large size. Supersize fries contain an additional 74 calories.

The timing of yesterday’s announcement — on the day ministers announced a national consultation on public health — has prompted suggestions that McDonald’s is anxious to avert the threat of legislation that might harm its business.

John Reid, the Health Secretary, welcomed the move but said that the Government would introduce laws banning junk-food advertising if businesses did not take action themselves. He said yesterday: “We are prepared to use legislation but we know that we cannot make the nation healthy by diktat. The Government can’t solve this problem on our own.

“I hope this is the first of many steps taken by every organisation that can make a difference.”

McDonald’s said its move to phase out giant portions was a business decision not driven by the obesity issue. A spokeswoman said: “Supersizing does not in itself cause obesity. But we are obviously mindful of the whole obesity debate in Britain. By the end of 2004, we will have phased out all supersized portions.”

The company added that it would also announce a new menu range next week that is understood to include lower- calorie alternatives. The spokeswoman said: “It is a range that will fit nicely alongside all the things we have introduced over the last 18 months, such as fruit bags, low-fat yoghurt and semi-skimmed organic milk.”

Kath Dalmeny, policy officer at the Food Commission, cast doubt on the significance of yesterday’s announcement, saying: “This is driven by the threat of litigation and legislation. While it is good to hear that McDonald’s is finally acknowledging that supersizing has got something to do with increasing rates of obesity, the whole fast-food industry needs to be cleaning up its act.

“McDonald’s should be looking at the fat content of burgers, the type of fat they cook their fries in and the sugar content of fizzy drinks.”

Two lawsuits claiming McDonald’s hid the health risks of eating Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets were thrown out in federal court in New York last year. But there are fears among major food chains that more class action suits, similar to those taken against tobacco companies, will follow.

An award-winning documentary, Super Size Me, has heaped unwanted publicity on McDonald’s in recent months. The film chronicles the deterioration of the health of Morgan Spurlock, the film-maker, during a month-long experiment eating nothing but McDonald’s food. Mr Reid plans to hold a special meeting next month with Cabinet colleagues, health experts and retailers amid growing fears that obesity is reaching epidemic proportions among young people.

Figures show that almost 17 per cent of children aged between two and 15 are significantly overweight.

A Treasury report written by Derek Wanless, a former banker, suggested last week that the NHS could save £30 billion a year by 2022 if public health were improved.

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