NSF Releases Groundbreaking Research on UK Food Labelling Practices
Oxford, UK – January 8, 2025 – NSF, a global leader in food safety and quality, made a significant announcement today regarding their latest research findings on food labelling practices in the UK. With a focus on consumer expectations and the effectiveness of current labelling practices, this research provides critical insights for the food industry.
Katie Glover, EMEA Manager for Regulatory Affairs and Trading Law at NSF, emphasized the importance of food labelling in shaping consumer choices and promoting public health in the UK. “As consumer demands evolve, there’s a clear need for the food industry to adapt and provide more transparent, accessible, and reliable labelling practices,” she said.
The research revealed several challenges, including the complexity of nutritional information, the need for standardised sustainability metrics, and varying levels of comprehension among different age groups.
Key findings from the research include:
– Consumer engagement is on the rise, with 76% of UK adults now reading food labels before purchasing. This figure increases to 82% among 18-34-year-olds, and almost half (45%) pay more attention to food labelling compared to five years ago.
– Labelling priorities are shifting, with consumers prioritising comprehensive processing information (70%) and detailed allergen information (65%) as the most valuable additions to food labels.
– Limited understanding of food labels remains an issue, with over a third (36%) of Brits admitting to struggling to interpret them. Less than half (49%) of adults feel that current labels provide sufficient information for making healthy food choices.
– Sustainability concerns are also top of mind for consumers, with only 29% of UK adults believing that current food labels adequately address sustainability issues.
– There is a generational divide in the trust of health claims, with 60% of 18-34-year-olds finding them trustworthy compared to only 25% of those over 55.
– Consumers are willing to pay a premium for products with comprehensive and transparent labelling, with 32% of UK consumers willing to pay more for such products, at an average premium of 9-12%.
Glover stressed the need for clearer labelling to empower consumers to make more informed decisions about their food choices. “This not only contributes to better public health outcomes but also fosters a more sustainable food system and builds greater trust between food manufacturers and the British public,” she said.
Clearer labelling also presents a win-win situation for both businesses and consumers. For consumers, it empowers them to make more informed choices about their diet and overall well-being. By knowing how food is produced, it empowers everyone to make more informed decisions. This is particularly important given the current health challenges we face, with diet-related risks being the second-largest contributor to years of life lost in the UK.
NSF remains committed to working with the food industry to develop innovative solutions that meet evolving consumer expectations and regulatory requirements. The full whitepaper, offering detailed insights and recommendations, is available on the NSF website.
For more information about food labelling requirements and NSF’s services, visit nsf.org.
