UKH launches guidance on calorie labelling legislation

Industry body UKHospitality (UKH) has penned guidance on the new calorie labelling legislation set to come into play this April.

The Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021 will require businesses with over 250 employees to display calories for food and drinks under 1.2% abv. In light of this, UKH's guidance aim to help affected businesses and ensure consistent enforcement post-April. The advice is available to anyone in the sector and is not exclusive to UKH members. 

The information has been compiled in conjunction with the UKH Nutrition Group and covers a digestible summary of the legislation, as well as answers to FAQs (frequently asked questions). Given the complexity of handling the new measures, particularly at such a challenging time for operators, the advice will be updated on a rolling basis as additional queries and details emerge. 

The document already covers such questions as:

• Which foods and businesses are exempt from the requirements
• Examples of food and meals that will need to display calorie information
• How the legislation affects franchised businesses and tied pubs
• What calorie information must be shown, and how it must be displayed.

"These new rules come into force at a very challenging time for our industry. Not only are businesses battling a workforce crisis and operating cost pressures – at the same time as managing crippling debt levels and depleted cash reserves – this April will see the triple whammy of a rise in VAT, business rates and labour costs," says Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKH.

"While working to ensure the sector is prepared and able to comply with the new guidance, we at UKH are working hard to press the case for a delay in implementation with a light tough on enforcement of the rules post-April."

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