Food labelling

Food information should be made the responsibility of a single government department, a committee of MPs has said.

The Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee recommended a new 'cross-government' approach, headed by defra.

In a report, the MPs said the department should have responsibility for food information across central and local government, and for representing the UK at EU level.

The committee wants a speedy government investigation into the events which allowed the illegal dye Sudan 1 to enter the UK food chain.

The report also calls for the mandatory provision of extensive but clear nutrition information, including daily guidelines for energy and nutrient requirements, on all labelling of prepacked foods.

Stakeholder Response: British Retail Consortium