Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Food Labelling

Thursday 27 January 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department launched a consultation on animal welfare labelling and plans to explore wider aspects of food labelling, including technological solutions like QR codes.
  • Country-of-origin labels must not mislead consumers, especially when ingredients differ from the primary label.
  • The Department is reviewing the comprehensive labelling of products, including those produced by GE, to ensure informed consumer decisions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Huw Merriman Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The questioner seeks improvements in food labelling post-EU to help consumers make informed choices regarding health and sustainability.

Question

What plans does the Department have to improve the quality of food labelling, ensuring that it supports consumer understanding of healthy and sustainable options?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

We have launched a consultation on animal welfare labelling and will consider wider aspects of labelling in the coming months. This includes exploring technological solutions like QR codes for more detailed information.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline or concrete actions beyond the ongoing consultation were not provided.

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Huw Merriman Con
Science & Technology Business & Trade
Context

Confusion exists among consumers regarding the origin of food products due to inconsistent or misleading labels, impacting their ability to support higher animal welfare standards.

Question

What action has been taken to clarify confusion about country-of-origin labelling? What technological solutions are being explored for better information?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

Country-of-origin labels must not mislead, especially when ingredients differ from the primary label. We are exploring solutions such as QR codes for more detailed product information.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific implementation timeline or details of technological improvements were not provided.

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Deidre Brock SNP
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Scottish Government is awaiting an EU review on genetically modified organism products, while the UK Government seeks to introduce GE crops in England without clear consumer awareness.

Question

Will any GE or GMO foods introduced in England be clearly labelled so that consumers can make informed decisions about their food choices?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

We are reviewing the comprehensive labelling of products, including those produced by GE. Technological solutions will be explored in future discussions on how to label such substances.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific implementation timeline or clear commitment to mandatory labelling was not provided.

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)