Bread: Food Composition

(asked on 26th May 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the survey by Opinium, conducted on 13–17 May, which found that 61 per cent of respondents said they were "not totally confident of what goes into most supermarket loaves"; what steps they intend to take in response; and what plans they have to improve the health benefits of bread.


Answered by
Lord Benyon Portrait
Lord Benyon
Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
This question was answered on 14th June 2022

It is essential that consumers have trust in the food they eat, and we recognise the importance of accurate labelling and quality standards for foods, including bread.

The UK maintains high standards on the information provided on food labels and packaging so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. Existing food labelling rules and other requirements on the control of additives in food production ensure that food is produced safely and labelled effectively to enable consumers to make informed choices on the food they buy and consume. The Government is committed to optimising the information that is available to consumers, and the Food Strategy White Paper, which we expect to publish soon, will set out work that we will be taking forward on consumer information and transparency

Bread sold on the domestic market must also comply with The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 which sets out specific composition and labelling requirements. There is an ongoing review of The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 which will include a public consultation on policy proposals where members of the public will be able to express their views. Part of the consultation will look at the implementation of government plans to introduce folic acid fortification to flour. This policy aims to improve public health benefits of bread and other flour containing products by helping to reduce the number of cases of Neural Tube Defects in foetuses.

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