McDonald's says the facts will be right in front of the customer

McDonald's said the labelling would include the fat, salt, calorie and carbohydrate content of its foods.

Critics have accused the company of contributing towards rising levels of obesity and other health problems.

Nutritional information on items such as the Big Mac, which contains 30g of fat, are currently only available in leaflets or on the company's website.

McDonald's said it hoped to have the new packaging in 20,000 of its 30,000 fast food restaurants worldwide by the end of 2006.

'Take responsibility'

McDonald's chief executive Jim Skinner said printing nutritional facts on the packaging of its foods would put the information directly in the hands of the company's customers.

"We think this the absolutely easiest way to communicate it," Mr Skinner said.

"We've given them what they asked for and then people take responsibility about whether they add it up or not add it up."

McDonald's has been introducing items such as salads and fruit to its menus, alongside the company's more traditional fare of burgers, fries and milkshakes.

Earlier this year, the US company announced that it was giving its iconic mascot clown Ronald McDonald a sporty new makeover in a bid to encourage children to take up more active lifestyles.

But critics have maintained that many of the foods on offer at McDonald's are unhealthy and fattening, at a time when obesity levels in many countries are soaring.