5 November 2013

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Labels on all pre-packaged food and drinks are changing due to a new European Regulation[1] and healthcare professionals (HCPs) have a vital role to play in helping people to adapt to these changes. In advance of December 2014, the deadline for the introduction of most of the changes[2], the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), the voice of UK food and drink manufacturers[3], has launched a new, free resource for HCPs[4] which explains these changes.

98% of delegates polled by FDF at Nutrition Health Live 2013, a leading conference for HCPs held 01-02 November in London, agreed that food and drink labels can be a useful tool to encourage healthier eating[5]. Of the practising HCPs polled, 64% responded that they always talk to patients about how to use labels to make healthier choices, with a further 34% doing so often or occasionally.

The new resource, 'Food and drink labelling: a tool to encourage healthier eating', provides a breakdown of forthcoming changes to nutrition, allergen and ingredient labelling. The resource, which also offers tips for HCPs on the best ways of communicating this information to patients, was developed with Registered Dietitian and Head of Nutrition at www.Grub4Life.com, Nigel Denby[6].

Barbara Gallani, Director of Regulation, Science Health at FDF, said:

“The Food Information to Consumers Regulation will result in changes to all food and drink packaging and we are already beginning to see new labels on products on sale today. FDF has launched this new resource to help minimise confusion around these changes by equipping HCPs with the information they will need to help their patients use the new food labels with confidence.”

Nigel Denby, Registered Dietitian and Head of Nutrition at www.Grub4Life.com, said:

“I am delighted that FDF has produced this resource to help us HCPs to be able to explain nutrition labelling to our patients. It is invaluable in helping them check the calories, fat, sugars and salt in a food at a glance and compare similar products. Good labelling will also provide information on, say, any allergens contained within a product. The more patients compare products before they buy, the more they become aware of what's in the food they're eating. All of this is need-to-know information for our patients.”

Notes for editors:

1. The regulation's full name is the 'EU Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers' and it is commonly referred to as the 'Food Information to Consumers Regulation'.

2. Key changes that people will begin to see on pack include: the use of the term 'Reference Intakes' will replace 'Guideline Daily Amount'; allergens will be more clearly indicated in the ingredients list; and mandatory nutrition labelling will appear on most products. This nutrition information will be provided (on a per 100g basis) for energy (both in kilojoules and kilocalories), fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt (in that order).

3. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is the voice of the food and drink manufacturing industry – the UK's largest manufacturing sector.
4. The new resource 'Food and drink labelling: a tool to encourage healthier eating' is free to download. To request free copies of the guide, HCPs can contact FDF via 0207 420 7118 / anna.taylor@fdf.org.uk.

5. FDF polled 100 delegates at the Nutrition Health Live 2013 conference, an event primarily attended by nutritionists, dietitians, practice nurses and other health workers. 55% of respondents are currently practising HCPs; the remainder is made up of student nutritionists and dietitians, as well as others in academia and industry with an interest in nutrition.

6. www.Grub4Life.com is an online community offering advice and news updates on early-years nutrition.

More information

For media enquiries, please contact:

Anna Taylor on 0207 420 7118 Email: Anna.Taylor@fdf.org.uk

Avni Raval on 020 7420 7131 Email: Avni.Raval@fdf.org.uk

Helena O'Neill on 020 7420 7120 Email: Helena.ONeill@fdf.org.uk

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