Food labelling and packaging
Nutrition, health claims and supplement labelling
Nutrition labelling
You must follow nutrition labelling information rules for all pre-packed products unless both of the following apply:
- you’re a small business with under 10 employees and a turnover of less than £1.4 million
- you supply either direct to consumers or to local retailers - local means within your county, your neighbouring county, or up to 30 miles from your county boundary
Nutrition and health claims
You have to follow certain rules if you want to make a nutrition claim (for example, low fat) or a health claim (for example, calcium helps maintain normal bones).
You cannot claim or imply that food can treat, prevent or cure any disease or medical condition.
Food supplements, fortified foods and foods for specific nutritional uses
You must follow certain rules if you are manufacturing, selling or importing:
- a food supplement
- a food fortified with vitamins and minerals
There are also specific rules for ‘parnuts foods’, for example:
- formula milk for infants and young children
- baby food
- meal and total diet replacement for weight control
- medical foods
You must tell the Department for Health if you want to sell infant formula or medical food in the UK.