Tag: Uk food law

Over 100 regulatory agencies worldwide, including the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA), have deemed aspartame safe for human consumption. Despite some public concerns, aspartame is not illegal in the UK and is an approved food additive used in a wide range of products.

In April 2022, new legislation came into effect in England, requiring food businesses with over 250 employees to display calorie information on menus and food labels. This was part of a government initiative to help tackle rising obesity levels by giving consumers more transparent nutritional information.

According to UK food labelling regulations, the nutritional values displayed on food labels are average figures, meaning they are not always perfectly precise. Understanding the acceptable 'margin of error', or official tolerance, is crucial for consumers who rely on this information for dietary decisions. This guide explains the specific regulations that govern the accuracy of nutrition labels across the UK.

Saccharin, the first commercially produced low-calorie sweetener, has been in use in the UK since sugar shortages during World War I. Today, it remains a permitted food additive, but its usage is subject to stringent regulations to ensure consumer safety.

In the UK, roasted coffee can only be labelled 'decaffeinated' if it contains no more than 0.1% caffeine by dry weight. This means that contrary to popular belief, decaf coffee does have caffeine, albeit in very small amounts, and is not truly caffeine-free.

According to the UK's National Health Service (NHS), acesulfame K (E950) is one of several non-nutritive sweeteners approved for use in the UK. This directly answers the common query: Is acesulfame potassium banned in the UK? and confirms its legal status in British food and beverages.

According to the UK's Food Standards Agency, all food additives, including monosodium glutamate (MSG), are only permitted after a thorough safety evaluation. Contrary to persistent myths that have circulated for decades, the question, "Is MSG banned in the UK?" can be answered with a clear no.

Despite persistent internet rumours, castoreum is not used in UK food production today, and its use globally is extremely rare. The high cost and difficulty of harvesting this beaver secretion have made it commercially unviable compared to modern synthetic alternatives.

Did you know celery is among the 14 allergens legally required to be highlighted on food packaging in the UK? This explains **why is celery in bold?**, a critical food safety practice related to understanding nutrition and diet.

As of October 2025, official Skittles ingredient lists from the manufacturer's UK website and major retailers confirm that titanium dioxide (E171) is not used in the formulation available in Great Britain. This directly answers the question: Do Skittles contain titanium dioxide in the UK?