LONDON - More than 1,000 McDonald's restaurants in Britain will begin displaying the calorie count of each fast food item on their menus, as part of a government-led program to fight obesity.

McDonald's says the calorie counts will be displayed on wall-mounted menu boards from Sunday in all of its 1,200 U.K. restaurants.

The chain is one of several food companies partnering with the Department of Health to encourage customers to adopt a healthier diet. It has also promised to remove artificial trans fats from its products, although it did not sign up to a salt reduction pledge.

McDonald's is already displaying calorie menu boards in New York City.

Other chains that have signed up to the British calorie display program include KFC, Pizza Hut and Starbucks.