Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Deferred
Review food packaging guidance to ensure minimum accessibility for essential information
Recommendation
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should review its food packaging guidance in light of new technological approaches being developed and ensure a minimum accessibility requirement on food packaging’s essential nutrition, health and pricing information. (Paragraph 37) Accessibility of products and services to disabled people 17
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the challenge of small food labels for visually impaired people and states it is writing a guide with the Codex Alimentarius Commission on using technology for food information. It indicates further consideration is needed on the impact of new labelling methods and expresses interest in ongoing shop trials, without committing to immediately reviewing guidance or ensuring minimum accessibility requirements.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Our reply We know information on food labels must be clear to read. But food packages can be small so the labels are small. People with low vision find small labels hard to read. Fibre from whole grains and vitamins We know that there are now mobile device apps and QR codes that can help consumers with visual impairments access information on the label. Guide We are writing a guide with the Codex Alimentarius Commission on using technology to provide information on food. We need to look carefully at how new labelling methods will affect the packaging and cost of food products. Some shops are making food labels in formats that suit people with visual impairments. We are interested in seeing how these trials go.