New Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) comes into force

The UK Government has introduced new calorie labelling requirements in its latest initiative to help consumers make informed, healthier decisions. ‘The Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021’ was first outlined before Parliament on 13 May 2021 and will come into force on 6 April 2022.

The legislation requires caterers with 250 or more employees to provide calorie information for food items offered for sale to the customer in a form suitable for immediate consumption. This means that food outlets such as canteens, restaurants, takeaways, cafes, entertainment venues and supermarkets will fall within the scope of these Regulations.

This legislation applies to workplace catering and educational institutions for those over 18 years old; however, education institutions for pupils below 18 years old are exempt. Daily “Specials” and items that only appear occasionally on the menu are also exempt from the legislation, and for operational reasons, they may not have a calorie count displayed.

Why is calorie labelling on menus needed?

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the value of having good health. Making healthy food choices plays an important role in maintaining health and wellbeing. The government has refocused on the need to change the food environment we live in to make healthier choices easier for individuals.

Calorie labelling on menus has been introduced to give people the information needed to make an informed choice about the food they are ordering when eating out.

The introduction of this legislation appears to be widely supported by the public, with 79% of respondents to a 2018 Public Health England survey agreeing that menus should include the number of calories in food and drinks.

As a fresh food caterer, Harrison is committed to ensuring our sites, within this scope, are fully prepared and compliant with this legislation while also supporting the government’s initiative to provide customers with information to make informed choices on what they eat outside of the home.

For more information, please visit: Calorie labelling in the out of home sector: implementation guidance.