LOS ANGELES: An American restaurant operator is to introduce a ''PG'' system for menus in the latest victory for the campaign against obesity by the US First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Darden Restaurants, which owns several chains in the US, will require children to have parental permission when they order chips with a meal.

Fruit or vegetable side dishes and low-fat milk will also become standard.

Amid growing calls for healthier options the restaurants in the group will also reduce calories and sodium in meals for children by a fifth over the next decade.

Darden's Olive Garden, Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse and Bahama Breeze chains will also each offer at least one children's meal option with fewer than 600 calories.

Olive Garden has previously been criticised by nutritionists for its ''never ending pasta bowl'' offer.

Darden, which owns 1900 restaurants , is the latest US restaurant operator to heed calls from consumer advocates for healthier children's meals following moves by McDonald's and Burger King to offer fruit.

Mrs Obama, speaking at an Olive Garden restaurant in Hyattsville, Maryland, said it was a ''breakthrough moment in the restaurant industry''.

Telegraph, London