Nutrition Labelling on Food Products and Menus

Abstract

Nutrition label information on food and drink products is intended to educate and enable consumers to make appropriate food choices. Legislation and policies surrounding the provision of nutrition information are outlined here, specifically those “back” and “front” of pack label versions which appear on pre-packed products, and calorie information on menus. This chapter will describe the practicalities of how consumers can use nutrition labelling to make healthier food choices and the skills and knowledge they need to be able to do so. Evidence on the impact of product and menu labelling on consumers’ purchases and dietary intakes will be reviewed. Efforts to increase the equity of nutrition labels on diets and health across consumer groups are also discussed here in terms of front-of-pack labelling, product reformulation and nutrition label education. Finally, this chapter will introduce the provision of online product nutrition information, including in supermarket websites, alongside the emerging evidence on consumers’ use of these “virtual” labels.