News

The Food Standards Agency has called for lists of ingredients to be added to all alcoholic drinks labels, as well as details of the number of calories they contain.

The FSA board said yesterday (11 June) in its response to the European Commission's food labelling proposals, which will become the UK's negotiating position in Europe, that labelling rules should also apply to food sold over the Internet or by mail order.

The agency supports mandatory nutritional and front-of-pack (FOP) labelling and is currently evaluating FOP labelling schemes in use in the UK.

A spokesman said the FSA would report on its findings in early 2009.

The FSA last week revised its guidance on clear labelling for food packaging to reflect concerns that some existing labels are too small for many people.

To improve clarity, the agency has called for not just the font size, but also the contrast between the type and background, the font style and the position on the pack to be taken into account.

The FSA said it aimed to promote "clear and consistent" food labels to help consumers make "appropriate and informed choices".

Food labelling negotiations are expected to start in Europe under the French presidency of the European Union in September.