Call for harmonisation on EU Allergen labelling 8th January 2025
Several European countries have their own rules for allergen labelling of food products, particularly those outside of the scope of EU 1169/2011 which focused on pre-packed foods. This potentially creates confusion for people with an allergy as well as making collaboration between labs very difficult,hence the call for better harmonisation across Europe. Read more.......
Update- Peanut contamination in mustard 18th December 2024
Keep updated on the products which are impacted by the unintentional presence of peanut in mustard which is impacting a broad spectrum of products on the market via the Food Standards Agency website. Read more......
FDF Guidance published on Allergen Recalls 6th November 2024
The Food and Drink Federation have published helpful guidance for the food industry aimed at reducing the number of recalls linked with food allergens. The most common reasons for an allergen based recall is linked to : incorrectly or not declaring allergenic ingredients ; mismatch of product to packaging ; incorrect ‘free-from’ allergen claims ; not declaring unintentional allergen presence in food and drink products. Read more.....
Out of Home Allergen consultation launched 9th October 2024
Recently the Food Standards Agency has launched a consultation looking into Allergen Labelling for the Out-Of-Home Sector. Read more......
FSA publish study on Food Allergens 3rd September 2024
FSA publish research study aimed at better understanding trends in the occurrence of food hypersensitivity reactions and their consequences and the circumstances surrounding severe, life-threatening reactions to food. Read more......
Labelling requirements for food product into NI 15th August 2024
DEFRA have recently reviewed guidance on labelling requirements for certain products moving from Great Britain to retail premises in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. Read more.........
Making claims on Food Supplements 9th July 2024
When making claims on Food Supplements ensure that you use approved claims from the GB register. Recently the ASA upheld a complaint made against Drop Food Supplements where claims were made on the product which were not on the approved register. Read more.....
Advertising of high fat, salt and sugar products 26th June 2024
Both major political parties propose prohibiting the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products to children as part of the approach to tackle childhood obesity. Click on the link for the technical guidance to review where your products sit in relation to HFSS. Read more....
Natural and synthetic cannabidiol (CBD) 13th May 2024
Food Standards Agency publish response to applications for the use of natural and synthetic cannabidiol (CBD) applications as novel foods. Read more.......
Ultra-processed Foods Guidance 10th May 2024
The Food Standards Agency has published consumer information in relation to the current science and evidence around ultra-processed food and the FSA’s role.Read more.........
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WHICH review of Origin labelling 30th April 2024
The recent WHICH review of origin labelling found it confusing for consumers. Read more....
Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. 5th March 2024
Under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme some food products will need individual product labels with the words ‘Not for EU’. These requirements will be brought in through 3 phases from October 2023 to July 2025. Read more.....
Confusion on Ultra Processed Foods 14th February 2024
How can consumers be supported to make healthier food choices? Packaged food and drink products must show whether a food item is high in fat, salt and sugar but not how processed it is. Would labelling foods as ultra-processed might be helpful for consumers? Read more.....
GB-wide labelling proposal 16th January 2024
The UK Governments proposal to roll out ‘not for EU’ labelling on food and drink products across the whole of the UK from October has raised concerns in Scotland related to the additional cost to businesses. Read more..........
Confusion over food date labels 20th December 2023
The recent report from the Consumer Food Insights (CFI) Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability on food-date labels, such as “use by” and “best if used by,” shows consumer confusion leading to unnecessary disposal of safe-to-eat. Read more...
NEW EU rules for Organic Pet Food Labelling 9th November 2023
EU Council adopt labelling rules for organic pet food labelling: A new EU law that will align the rules regarding the labelling of organic pet food to those governing the labelling of organic food intended for human consumption. Read more....
FSA issue new guidance on CBD levels 19th October 2023
Consumers advised to cut consumption of CBD: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland have issued new guidance for consumers advising that the maximum daily intake of Cannabidiol (CBD) should not exceed 10mg. Previous FSA advice published in February 2020 recommended healthy adults not to take more than 70mg of CBD per day. Read more....
FSA and FDF issue updated allergen labelling guidance 5th September 2023
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published new food allergen labelling and information technical guidance, as the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) reveals its own set of allergen labelling guidelines supporting the agency’s update which will support businesses in getting their food labels right for consumers.Read more FSA.... FDF....
Energy drinks recalled due to labelling issues 1st September 2023
Health Canada has recalled additional ranges of caffeinated energy drinks , including popular brands, as being potentially unsafe due to concerns related to caffeine content and labelling accuracy. High levels of caffeine can pose potential health risks, especially for children, pregnant individuals, breastfeeding individuals, and those who are particularly sensitive to caffeine. Read more...
Consultation on Nutrition and Health Claims 10th August 2023
The government wants to ensure that consumers can have confidence in the food they buy, and any health benefits promoted on the label. The nutrition and health claims regulations ensure that claims made about a food or drink are accurate and not misleading so that consumers can make informed choices to meet their lifestyle and nutritional needs. The government is proposing changes in relation to nutrition labelling, composition and standards (NLCS) retained EU law. Read more....
Consumers are confused over portion size 28th July 2023
A recent WHICH survey has shown that many consumers are confused over portion sizes, particularly on snack foods. Portion size information on food labels is designed to support consumers in making a balanced diet. Read more....
The difference between natural and ‘free’ sugars 14th June 2023
The sugars found in fruit are typically known as 'naturally occurring sugars' and, especially in fruit and milk, come alongside beneficial nutrients such as fibre, vitamins and minerals. In comparison, the sugars typically found in processed foods such as doughnuts, sometimes referred to as 'refined', 'added' or 'free' sugars, contain little, if any, nutritional benefit. Read more....
Netherlands to adopt Nutri-Score labelling 3rd May 2023
This week, the Netherlands announced Nutri-Score will ‘definitely’ be adopted as its official voluntary nutrition labelling scheme. The move is a controversial one, with nutritionists arguing the scheme contradicts its food-based dietary guidelines. Read more..
FDA publish new Food Labelling Guidelines 19th April 2023
Are you exporting to United States? The FDA receives many questions from manufacturers, distributors, and importers about the proper labelling of their food products. This guidance is a summary of the required statements that must appear on food labels. In order to minimise legal action and delays. Read more.....
Health and Nutritional claims on food labels 15th March 2023
Do make sure that the claims used on your food and drink / food supplement labels and marketing materials are approved on the GB register of Health and Nutrional claims. A recent ASA ruling upheld a complaint on a cider vinegar product relating to internet marketing claims, as they were not on the approved register. Read more ..
NEW labelling for NI food products 28th February 2023
The ‘Windsor framework’ provides for UK rules to apply to products moving between N.I and Great Britain that are not intended to enter the EU market. Such products will be required to be marked ‘not for EU’ in the case of prepacked meat and fresh milk being individually labelled by 1st October 2023 and most other goods not subject to official controls at border inspection points by 1st July 2025. Read more....
New rules for wine labelling 24th January 2023
Following a DEFRA consulatation new rules to follow for wine labelling. Wine products should be allowed to show alcoholic strength to one decimal place, when several grape varieties are used in the production of a blended wine and are shown on the label, the named varieties must total at least 95% of the volume of the wine, the term ‘alc/vol’ may appear directly after the alcohol content figure displayed on the label of any alcoholic beverage. Read more..
Carbon labelling on food products 1st December 2022
Benugo rolls out carbon footprint labelling in cafes and restaurants after successful trials.in the UK. Read more ...
Milk the most commonly undeclared food allergen on food labels 24th November 2022
A study by the FDA has shown that undclared milk on food labels is the most commonly ommitted food allergen. Read more ...
BRC Guidance on HFSS promotional restrictions 20th October 2022
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has updated their category guidance detailing categories in and out of scope of the HFSS promotional restrictions. Please find a link to the updated guidance. Read more....
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News
Call for harmonisation on EU Allergen labelli
8th January 2025
Several European countries have their own rules for...
See more...
Update- Peanut contamination in mustard
18th December 2024
Keep updated on the products which are impacted by the...
See more...