Food labelling and packaging
Nutrition, health claims and supplement labelling
Nutrition labelling
You must follow nutrition labelling information rules for all prepacked 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
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
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 groups
You must follow certain rules if you are manufacturing, selling or importing:
There are also specific rules for foods for specific groups (FSGs), formerly known as ‘parnuts’, for example:
- infant formula and follow-on formula
- baby foods
- total diet replacement for weight control
- foods for special medical purposes
In England, Scotland and Wales
You must tell the Department of Health and Social Care if you want to sell infant formula or foods for special medical purposes.
Find out more in the Department of Health and Social Care’s nutrition legislation sheet.
In Northern Ireland
You must tell the Food Standards Agency if you want to sell infant formula or foods for special medical purposes.