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<p>My Rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not
had any recent discussions with the food and drinks industry on calorie labelling,
including carbohydrate content, on pre-packaged foods or food sold in restaurants,
cafes, fast food outlets and takeaways.</p><p> </p><p>The mandatory nutrient declaration
for pre-packaged food must include values for carbohydrate and calories. We welcome
the actions taken by responsible producers and retailers who have adopted the front
of pack and out of home nutrition labelling schemes. Businesses that have adopted
the front of pack nutrition labelling scheme account for approximately two thirds
of the market for pre-packed foods and drinks, and around a quarter of the food consumed
outside the home currently has calories labelled at the point of choice, for example
on menus and menu boards. But the challenge to industry to make further progress remains.</p><p>
</p><p>The United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union will give us greater
flexibility to determine what information should be presented on packaged food, and
how it should be displayed. We want to build on the success of our current labelling
scheme, and review additional opportunities to go further and ensure we are using
the most effective ways to communicate information. This might include clearer visual
labelling, such as teaspoons of sugar, that help consumers understand more about the
sugar content in packaged food and drink.</p><p> </p><p>There has been no central
assessment of the merits of introducing mandatory recommended dietary allowance guidelines
on fast food packaging or in fast food outlets.</p>
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