Your support meant that clear calorie labelling was introduced in England
In April 2022 the UK Government brought into force legislation to make calorie labelling in larger takeaways and restaurants compulsory. This would not have happened without the support of thousands of you who took part in our Food Upfront campaign.
Why we campaigned on this issue
Nine out of ten people said clearer food labelling would help them make quick healthier food choices.
That's why our Food Upfront campaign called on the UK government and food industry to act and make nutritional labelling clear, consistent and compulsory.
Taking action
Thanks to your support, leading restaurants and the UK government have heard the demand for stronger nutritional labelling.
1. Signing the petition
In March 2018, almost 7,000 of you signed our petition, which is absolutely amazing. With this many signatures, the message is crystal clear – it was time for the government and industry to strengthen food labelling.
2. Writing to your MP
In April 2018, we took our cause to parliament to tell MPs why clear labelling is so important. Hundreds of you wrote to your MP asking them to meet with us and more than 50 MPs joined us and took action on the day.
3. Submitting the petition
In May 2018, we took our message directly to the Prime Minister by handing in the Food Upfront petition.
4. The government publishing their Childhood Obesity Plan
On 24 June 2018, the Government published a second chapter of their Childhood Obesity Plan. This includes proposals for clear, consistent and compulsory calorie labelling that were consulted on over the autumn.
5. Responding to the government consultation
We submitted our response to the government consultation. Thousands of you shaped our response through focus groups in Cardiff, Glasgow, London and Wolverhampton and an online survey.
6. Getting restaurants, cafes and takeaways on board
We called on some of the biggest chains in the country to adopt the Food Upfront pledge. We sent thousands of your letters to the biggest chains in the country, urging them to improve their labelling. And some of them listened. We had meetings with leading restaurant chains to discuss their food labelling.
7. The Government's Obesity Strategy
In July 2020, the Government published its Obesity Strategy, which included commitments on calorie labelling in larger restaurants, takeaways and cafe chains. They also promised to review front of pack labelling and restrictions on junk food advertising and promotions.
8. Continuing to call for improvements to carb labelling
We are continuing to push for more nutritional information (including carbohydrates) to be made more widely available. We want all restaurants, cafes and takeaways to ensure that they have the carbohydrate content of their food and drinks available in store if requested or easily accessible online.
Update 2024: We continued to call for restrictions on junk food advertising as part of our Diabetes is Serious campaign, and in 2024, the government announced that from October 2025 junk food tv ads will be banned before the 9pm watershed.
