HC Deb 28 February 2003 vol 400 cc767-8W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change food labelling regulations. [98838]

Ms Blears

Labelling regulations are agreed at European Union level. The Food Standards Agency is pressing for a number of important changes in EU labelling rules. Its top priorities, which are based on consumer research and consultation, are to achieve more extensive, clearer country of origin labelling, clear nutrition labelling on all foods and tighter controls on use of health claims.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Food Standards Agency's recommendations for the compulsory labelling of the nutritional content of food; and which foods would be covered if such proposals were enacted. [98839]

Ms Blears

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that manufacturers provide full nutrition information on all pre-packaged foods to allow consumers to make fully informed choices about the nutritional value of the foods they buy. The FSA is pressing to make this recommendation a legal requirement through changes to the current European Union rules on nutrition labelling.

Contrary to reports in the press the FSA has not recommended introducing legislation requiring the nutritional content of food and drink to be given on menus.