Fiona has lent their support to a campaign from leading charity Diabetes UK, calling for the public to be given clear nutritional information in restaurants, cafes and takeaways, as well as on the front of all pre-packaged food and drinks.
Fiona made the pledge at a parliamentary event hosted by the charity as part of its ongoing Food Upfront campaign. Through the campaign, Diabetes UK is making the following calls to government:
- Mandatory front-of-pack traffic light labelling on all pre-packed foods and drinks sold in the UK,
- Mandatory calorie labelling on menus in key high street restaurants, cafes and takeaways, with carb content available online or when you ask for it in store,
- Ensure carbohydrates are labelled on the back of products, per portion and as prepared.
Clear food labelling is vital for millions of people living with diabetes, to help them manage their condition and reduce their risk of serious complications. In a 2017 survey of more than 9,000 people living with or affected by diabetes, almost three quarters of respondents (73%) said that if all companies used the same food labelling system it would help them to make healthier choices. Clear food labelling also helps the wider public make more informed decisions about what they eat and drink – most people polled think that this labelling should extend to cafes, restaurants and takeaways. Evidence shows that both front-of-pack traffic light labelling and calorie labelling informs consumers and helps making the healthier choice the easier choice.
Despite public appetite for greater clarity when it comes to food, clear and consistent food labelling is not currently compulsory. Companies don’t have to provide any information on the front of their goods, and one in three products in shops don’t have clear traffic-light labels. Many restaurants, cafes and takeaways also still do not provide calorie labelling on their menus or other nutritional information online or when asked for it in store.
Commenting on the campaign, Fiona said:
“It is incredibly important that everyone has the information they need to make informed decisions when it comes to their diet. This is even more important for those who have allergies or have health conditions like diabetes. I am therefore happy to lend my support to Diabetes UK’s Food Upfront campaign – putting these simple measures in place could make a massive difference to the nation’s health.”
Helen Dickens is Assistant Director of Campaigns and Mobilisation at Diabetes UK. She said:
“We know that consistent and clear food labelling can help all of us to make informed choices. For people with diabetes, easy access to clear and consistent labelling, for example on carbohydrate content, is vital to supporting them with their diabetes management
“With around two-thirds of adults, and almost a third of children in the UK classed as overweight or obese, and therefore at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and other chronic health conditions, it’s really important that we have measures in place that help make it easier for all of us to know what’s in the food we’re buying.
“That’s why we are calling for the government to strengthen and, when possible, introduce mandatory front of pack traffic-light labelling on packaging, and calorie labelling on menus. The British public overwhelmingly support these moves, so we are grateful to Fiona Bruce for her efforts in helping put these potentially life-changing measures into practice.”