Written question asked by Brian Iddon (Labour) on Thursday, 20 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 November 2008. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Nutrition

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the applicability to food supplements of nutrient profiles set under the provision of the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation; and what steps he is taking to advance that policy in discussions on these matters at the Council of Ministers and its Working Groups.

Answer: Nutrient profiles are to be established in order that health or nutrition claims are not made on foods that contain high levels of saturated fat, salt or sugar as this could mislead consumers as to the true nutritional quality of those foods. Foods that have no nutritional impact because they contain very low or no levels of these nutrients, or are consumed in very small quantities, including food supplements as defined by the food supplements directive, are to be exempt from compliance with nutrient profiles in the European Commission proposal. The United Kingdom has and will continue to support the proposed exemption.

Secondary information