From the 6th April 2022, certain businesses in England will have to display the calorie content of the food they sell. It’s part of new legislation that was introduced in 2021 to tackle obesity. The initiative applies to large out-of-home food businesses, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 employees. The Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021 were laid before Parliament in May 2021.
Tackling obesity is one of the greatest long-term health challenges faced by the UK. Obesity is a risk factor for a range of chronic diseases and is associated with reduced life expectancy and negative impacts on mental health. While Obesity is a complex disorder with many influencing factors, calorie labelling is one public health strategy aimed at supporting people to make more informed food choices when eating foods prepared outside of home.
The types of businesses covered by the requirement include:
- Restaurants, fast food outlets, cafes, pubs and supermarkets.
- Home delivery services and 3rd party apps.
- Cafes and takeaways within larger venues.
- Specialist food stores, delicatessens, sweet shops and bakeries.
- Contract catering.
- Domestic transport within the UK.
The Calorie Labelling Resource
The Calorie Labelling Resource is an initiative brought to you by Nutritics, a nutrition and allergen management software company with clients worldwide. This initiative comes as a continuation of the UK Food Labelling Resource which became one of the UK’s most visited prominent sources of nutrition information as food businesses across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland prepared for Natasha’s Law.
The Calorie Labelling Business Resource is dedicated to the provision of free, expert information and support for businesses that wish to comply with upcoming legislation regarding calories on menus.
The Food Labelling Business Community is an open forum for businesses to share resources and information that will help their businesses to be fully compliant with food labelling regulation. The platform was first initiated in the lead up to Natasha’s Law, to help businesses prepare for the UK Food Information Amendment. The platform shared dozens of panel discussions, live events, tools, resources and guides, for free, supporting thousands of businesses all over the UK.
The community forum is now being used to help businesses adapt to the latest legislation regarding food labelling and calorie menu labelling. By joining the Food Labelling Business Community, you are joining a thriving ecosystem of food businesses who are trying to keep up-to-date and compliant with the latest regulations. Through the community hub you will be able to meet, and ask questions to, some of the industry’s most well-respected thought leaders and regulatory experts.
