Calorie labelling policy vs consumption — insights from the UK

As Australia reviews its Health Star Rating (HSR) and nutrition information panel (NIP) labelling, insights from the UK market could help inform potential changes to improve public health.

The latest survey of 6000 individuals has found that the introduction of mandatory calorie labels in out-of-home food outlets in England was not associated with fewer calories being purchased or consumed. The findings are based on self-reported data from surveyed individuals both before and after implementation.

Labelling and consumption

Obesity is a major public health issue, and one risk factor is the consumption of calorie-dense foods from out-of-home food outlets such as takeaway cafes and restaurants, according to researchers from the University of Liverpool.

In April 2022, following similar policies in the parts of the USA and Canada, the UK Government introduced a policy in England that mandates the use of calorie labels by all out-of-home food outlets with more than 250 employees.

To assess the effect of this policy in England, Megan Polden from the University of Liverpool and colleagues conducted two surveys before and after implementation of the law to see whether it had led to behaviour changes among consumers.

Policy vs purchase and consumption

From August to December 2021, they surveyed 3308 individuals ranging in age, gender, ethnicity and educational level, who had purchased food from 330 outlets — these included pubs, restaurants, cafes, fast-food outlets and entertainment venues — and collected data on purchases and self-reported consumption. The researchers repeated their survey with 3270 individuals who purchased food from 325 of the same venues from August to December 2022.

Polden and colleagues indicate that, after implementation, consumers underestimated the energy content of their meal less and also reported they were more likely to notice and use the calorie labelling. However, they found no significant difference in calories purchased or consumed following the implementation of the policy. They found this result did not differ across participant age, gender, ethnicity or education level.

HSR, NIP reviews

In Australia, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is conducting an early-stage public call for information on the HSR system and NIP review, with submissions closing on 17 January 2025.

Following initial scoping, the FSANZ has established three principles to guide the evidence-based HSR and NIP review work. These are: enhance consumer use, understanding and trust in the HSR system and the NIP; the HSR system and the NIP complement and support each other; and any potential standards developed or amended are practical to implement and enforce. A full report about the review is expected to ready by early 2026 to help inform food ministers’ decision about the future.

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