Food labelling
Food labels provide you with information to help you choose food. Manufacturers must follow clear legal guidelines about what labels can and cannot show.
You can also find out more about food labelling on the Food Standards Agency website.
Calories
Large food businesses (250 or more employees) must display calorie labelling at the point of choice for the customer. This can be on physical menus, online menus, food delivery platforms and food labels.
This includes non-prepacked food served in restaurants, cafes and supermarkets so consumers can make healthier choices.
Pre-packed food and drink are already required to display nutritional information.
Smaller food businesses are not legally required to use calorie labelling but it is encouraged by the government.
GOV.UK have the guidance on calorie labelling in the out of home sector.
Allergens
Food businesses are required to provide allergy information for any food sold to the customer.
Allergens are:
- celery
- cereals containing gluten
- crustaceans
- eggs
- fish
- lupin
- milk
- molluscs
- mustard
- nuts
- peanuts
- sesame seeds
- soya
- sulphur dioxide and sulphites (above a set level)
If you need further guidance on allergens:
- find advice on allergen information for loose foods
- find advice on what to consider when labelling food
- view the think allergy information poster