Provision of calorie labelling at point of choice in catering outlets

The Food Standards Agency has been working with the catering industry to introduce voluntary calorie labelling at the place where people choose their food. Over 20 companies agreed to provide calorie labelling on this pilot in some or all of their outlets during summer 2009. Consumer responses and business impact has now been evaluated and the Agency has developed proposals for a voluntary calorie labelling scheme in order to encourage increased voluntary adoption of calorie labelling, in a consistent manner, across the catering industry.

1. Principles for a calorie labelling scheme – principles are proposed that are informed by the outcomes of the evaluation, and which build on the initial criteria that were used by businesses for calorie labelling in summer 2009. We welcome stakeholder views on these principles.
2. Obtaining calorie information – businesses have highlighted the challenge of obtaining accurate and consistent calorie information. The Agency seeks stakeholder views on the help it can provide for businesses.
3. Outline costs and benefits – the Agency seeks stakeholder views on the costs and benefits outlined in the draft impact assessment.
4. Experience of nutrition information in catering settings – the Agency invites catering businesses to provide information about their experiences of providing nutrition information to consumers at point of choice, and to share any consumer research they may have.
5. Next steps – the Agency seeks stakeholder views on how it can involve stakeholders in the implementation of a calorie labelling scheme.

Each of the proposals is discussed in greater detail in the main body of the consultation document.

This consultation will run for 14 weeks. The Agency welcomes responses to the questions asked in this consultation about: the issues arising from the key proposals (i-v above) and any other relevant issues.

Responses should be sent to Stewart Horne by email or by hard copy to the addresses shown above.

• A summary of the report 'An Evaluation of Provision of Calorie Information by Catering Outlets' by BMRB (2009) is included at Annexe D.
• The research report 'Consumer response to nutrition information available in catering outlets' by Navigator (2009).
• Healthy Weight Healthy Lives: A cross-government strategy for England.

Links to all these documents can be found below.

Responses are required by close 11 March 2010. Please state in your response, whether you are responding as a private individual or on behalf of an organisation/company (including details of any stakeholders your organisation represents).

This consultation has been prepared in accordance with the HM Government Code of Practice on Consultation, which states that a consultation must follow better regulation best practice, including carrying out an Impact Assessment (Regulatory Impact Assessment in Scotland). The assessment is included in the consultation documents.

We are interested in what you thought of this consultation and would therefore welcome your general feedback on both the consultation package and overall consultation process. If you would like to assist us to improve the quality of future consultations, please feel free to share your thoughts with us by using the consultation feedback questionnaire.

Consultation feedback questionnaire (Word)

Consultation feedback questionnaire (pdf)

In accordance with the FSA principle of openness our Information Centre at Aviation House will hold a copy of the completed consultation. The FSA will publish a summary of responses, which may include personal data, such as your full name. Disclosure of any other personal data would be made only upon request for the full consultation responses. If you do not want this information to be released, please complete and return the Publication of Personal Data Form. Return of this form does not mean that we will treat your response to the consultation as confidential, just your personal data.

Data protection form (Word)

Data protection form (pdf)

Within three months of a consultation ending we aim to publish a summary of responses received and provide a link to it from this page.

If, after three months, the summary is still not showing, please contact the person who was responsible for the original consultation. Alternatively, you can contact the FSA Consultation Co-ordinator by email: consultationcoordinator@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk