Tag: Uk food regulations

According to Coeliac UK, a recent survey revealed that members actively seek out the Crossed Grain symbol for reassurance. This trademark helps consumers quickly identify safe foods, clarifying what symbol is used in the UK to show something is gluten-free.

In late 2024, the UK government announced new regulations that would ban advertising for foods high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS), surprisingly including certain porridge products. This has sparked confusion, as many people consider porridge to be a healthy breakfast, begging the question: why is porridge considered junk food in the UK?. The answer lies not in the pure, unprocessed oats themselves, but in the specific, often heavily processed instant and flavoured varieties that contain excessive additives.

In late 2023, UK trading standards officers seized thousands of dollars worth of illegally imported US confectionery and drinks, including Mountain Dew, due to banned ingredients. This highlights the complex food safety laws and the key differences that explain why the original Mountain Dew is banned in England.

Since April 2022, all large food businesses in England with more than 250 employees have been legally required to display calorie information on their menus, menu boards, and websites. This means major restaurant chains are now providing clear calorie counts, helping customers make more informed decisions about their food and drink.

Since World War II, UK regulations have mandated the fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with specific nutrients to improve national health. This public health initiative ensures that common staples like bread and flour products provide essential vitamins and minerals to the population.

In the UK, all non-wholemeal wheat flour must, by law, be fortified with iron, niacin, thiamin, and calcium carbonate to restore lost nutrients. This regulation significantly impacts what are the ingredients in bread UK, differentiating it from simple homemade recipes and affecting both nutritional content and labelling.

According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), all additives, including preservatives, must be approved before they can be used in the UK. This means that while preservatives are used to extend shelf life and ensure food safety, their use is heavily regulated. So, does the UK use preservatives in food? Yes, but with a robust system of oversight and consumer protection.

According to the Food Standards Agency, UK food labels are legally required to display energy content in both kilojoules (kJ) and kilocalories (kcal). This dual-labeling approach helps consumers, with kcal being the more familiar term, while kJ represents the international standard.

According to the British Soft Drinks Association, there are over a dozen different types of sweeteners licensed for use in the UK. These non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) provide sweetness with few to no calories and are used extensively in low-sugar foods and drinks across the country.

Despite common misconceptions, the artificial food colour known as Yellow 5 (or Tartrazine, E102) is not illegal in the UK. However, significant studies linking it to hyperactivity prompted a landmark change in UK and EU food policy, which is crucial for anyone focusing on a healthy nutrition diet. This means products containing it must carry a specific warning label to inform consumers, especially parents.