Food: Labelling
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making nutritional information on pre-packaged food a) clearer, and b) more visible, especially with regard to salt.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
Food labelling legislation means that pre-packaged food must include back of pack nutritional information. This includes total salt content.
In addition, food businesses can voluntarily provide nutritional information on the front-of-pack. Front-of-pack nutrition labelling helps to support healthier choices by showing complex nutritional information, including salt, to consumers in a way that is easy and quick to understand. The United Kingdom was one of the first to introduce a national front-of-pack labelling system, and the voluntary Multiple Traffic Light scheme has been in place across the UK since 2013. Manufacturers and retailers are encouraged to provide a label on as many of their products as possible where the information is meaningful for consumers.
We will continue to review the evidence on front-of-pack nutrition labelling and consider, with devolved administrations, whether further action is needed in the future. If changes to front-of-pack nutrition labelling are required, we will consult on proposed policy changes.
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