PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(9 July 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making nutritional information on pre-packaged food a) clearer, and b) more visible, especially with regard to salt.

Asked by:
Sir Julian Smith (Conservative)

Food labelling legislation means that pre-packaged food must include back of pack nutritional information. This includes total salt content.

In addition, food businesses can voluntarily provide nutritional information on the front-of-pack. Front-of-pack nutrition labelling helps to support healthier choices by showing complex nutritional information, including salt, to consumers in a way that is easy and quick to understand. The United Kingdom was one of the first to introduce a national front-of-pack labelling system, and the voluntary Multiple Traffic Light scheme has been in place across the UK since 2013. Manufacturers and retailers are encouraged to provide a label on as many of their products as possible where the information is meaningful for consumers.

We will continue to review the evidence on front-of-pack nutrition labelling and consider, with devolved administrations, whether further action is needed in the future. If changes to front-of-pack nutrition labelling are required, we will consult on proposed policy changes.

Answered by:
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