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Consultation on Nutrient Profiling

Thursday 25 November 2004

At its open meeting in July this year, the Agency's Board agreed an Action Plan on Food Promotions and Children's Diets. The Action Plan makes a series of recommendations intended to shift the balance in food promotions aimed at children away from foods high in fat, salt and sugar, and towards healthier options.

All comments and views should be sent to:

Shifra Marikar

Food Standards Agency
Room 115c, Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6NH

E-mail: promokidsfood@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Responses are requested by: 25 February 2005

Consultation details

The Agency intends to make it easier for parents and children to make healthier food choices. The White Paper: Choosing Health sets out the wider programme of Government action within which these Agency initiatives takes place.

To support the implementation of the Action Plan, the Agency has commissioned research to develop and test nutrient profiling models to define 'foods high in fat, salt and sugar' and 'healthier options'. The Agency is now seeking your views on the outcomes of the study. A detailed summary and the full report can be viewed from the link at the foot of this page.

The focus of this consultation is specifically the scientific basis of the preferred nutrient profiling model, the way in which it has been developed, and its effectiveness. This consultation does not cover the applications for which the model might be used as these will be the subject of further consultation in due course.

The Agency is currently working with stakeholders to take forward a number of the recommendations in the Action Plan to which nutrient profiling may be applicable. This work includes developing advice for businesses on signpost labelling, use of nutrition and health claims, and criteria for reducing the levels of fat, salt and sugar in foods aimed at children.

The preferred model

The report recommends one model that, with further refinement, could form the basis of a workable system. This is a scoring model that takes account of energy, saturated fat, non-milk extrinsic sugars, and salt; and the degree to which these nutrients are balanced by calcium, iron, long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and fruit and vegetable content. The model therefore identifies foods high in fat, salt and sugar, while recognising the important contribution of dairy, meat, fish, and fruit and vegetable based products to a balanced diet.

The report also makes a number of recommendations for further development and testing which might be carried out on the preferred model.

Your views

The Agency would welcome your views on any aspect of the report, the preferred model, and the way in which it has been developed. In particular, we would welcome your comments in response to the following questions.

What is your assessment of the scientific basis of the preferred model, and the way in which it has been developed?

What is your view of the effectiveness of the preferred model?

What further development or testing of the model do you consider necessary?

Regulatory Impact Assessment

A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) has not been produced to accompany this consultation. This is because no costs to business will arise directly from the nutrient profiling model itself. A full RIA to accompany the Action Plan was prepared, and considered by the Agency�s Board at their July open meeting. In addition, further RIAs will be prepared to accompany forthcoming consultations on the planned best practice advice to which nutrient profiling is relevant.

A Welsh language version of the main consultation letter is available on request from FSA Wales .

Further information

This consultation has been prepared in accordance with the (External) HM Government Code of Practice on Consultation , which states that a consultation must follow better regulation best practice, including carrying out an Impact Assessment (Regulatory Impact Assessment in Scotland). The assessment is included in the consultation documents.

We are interested in what you thought of this consultation and would therefore welcome your general feedback on both the consultation package and overall consultation process. If you would like to assist us to improve the quality of future consultations, please feel free to share your thoughts with us by using the consultation feedback questionnaire.

Download word Consultation feedback questionnaire  (Word)

Download pdf Consultation feedback questionnaire  (pdf)

Publication of personal data and confidentiality of responses

In accordance with the FSA principle of openness our Information Centre at Aviation House will hold a copy of the completed consultation. Responses will be open to public access upon request. The FSA will also publish a summary of responses, which may include personal data, such as your full name and contact address details. If you do not want this information to be released, please complete and return the Publication of Personal Data Form. Return of this form does not mean that we will treat your response to the consultation as confidential, just your personal data.

Download word Data protection form  (Word)

Download pdf Data protection form  (pdf)

Publication of response summary

Within three months of a consultation ending we aim to publish a summary of responses received and provide a link to it from this page.

If, after three months, the summary is still not showing, please contact the person who was responsible for the original consultation. Alternatively, you can contact Judith Taylor, the FSA Consultation Co-ordinator, on 020 7276 8633.
Email: judith.taylor@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Related links

Agency research suggests people believe signposting would make healthier eating easier Read the full press release and notes to editors Alternative labelling of healthy and less healthy foods Read about the 1st phase of qualitative research, November 2004 Nutrient profiling model View the model (pdf file 35kb)

Download pdf  (pdf 34KB) Nutrient profiling research 2004 Options for definitions for use in relation to food promotion and childrens diets Summary of Responses: Consultation on Agency's commissioned research on Promotion of Food to Children: Nutrient Profiling

Download pdf  (pdf 118KB)

See also

Food promotion and children Action Plan 2004 See the website (External) Get Adobe Acrobat reader You may need the free Acrobat Reader to view a pdf

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