How Calorie Labelling Legislation Is Going To Impact Health And Hospitality 4
CLH News
April/May 2022
By Kunal Sawhney, CEO of Kalkine (www.kalkine.co.uk) New legislation for large businesses such as takeaways, restaurants, and cafes became effective in the United Kingdom, just a day ahead of World Health Day. It requires calorie information to be displayed on menus, online menus, third-party apps, food delivery platforms, and food labels. The legislation aimed to tackle obesity also requires the seller to put daily recommended calorie needs. The idea behind the rule is to make people more informed and go for healthier choices when they are eating out or ordering food from outside. World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7th of April to draw people’s attention to a specific health topic of concern. This year the theme was ‘Our plant our health’. The Covid-19 pandemic has become a guiding force for mankind, it revealed not only the persisting inequities in the society but also highlighted the weaknesses in all areas of society and an urgency to make the society sustainable, which vows to achieve equitable health.
WHAT PROMPTED THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION ON CALORIE LABELLING? Obesity was one of the key health concerns that emerged during the pandemic and tackling this health crisis became the major aim of the government. It has been said by health experts that type 2 diabetes is prompted by obesity. Not only health but finances are also getting impacted due to obesity, government’s estimation states that the nation’s overweight and obesity-related conditions cost the National Health Service (NHS) £6.1 billion each year. The huge sum invested in the public healthcare system due to obesity could have been used for various other welfare and economic development purposes. The government in its drive to level up the health of the nation mandated to display of calorie information on non-prepacked food and soft drinks. The new changes, which became effective on 6 April 2022, were approved by Parliament in 2021, making it mandatory for the large food businesses employing more than 250
people to display calorie information.
HOW ARE BUSINESSES COPING? For many large businesses, it hasn’t come as a surprise as they have been following it for a long, firms like McDonald’s have been doing it for decades, but now others will also have to follow the rule religiously. Hospitality businesses will have to label food with its product name and provide a full list of ingredients and calorie information on menus, food labels, online menus, food delivery platforms as well as third-party apps. The other measure included in the legislation that could impact the hospitality business is a ban on free refills of sugary soft drinks in restaurants and bars this year, which used to be a major lure for many venues. Also, before 9 pm there won’t be any adverts for junk food. The government has released guidelines, FAQs, and pictorial samples for displaying calorie information per portion basis. Still, there are many challenges that businesses are facing. First, there is confusion on printing requirements, how to go and what would suit, a pre-printed label or a sticky label and how to update them frequently based on the changes in menu ingredients. The legislation also includes a provision for customers to ask for a menu that does not contain calorie counts if they are finding it difficult to go by the detailed information on calories. It doubles the task of the businesses to prepare both kinds of menus. As per UKHospitality estimates, the legislation could put an additional burden of £40,000 per menu run for the hospitality businesses. A robust system is required to monitor everything, not only the menus but chefs using the right amount of ingredients they use every day and then putting it accordingly, based on per-portion is undoubtedly going to increase the cost of the businesses.
IS IT THE RIGHT DECISION AT THE WRONG TIME? UK hospitality sector is in shambles and trying hard to recover from the pandemic blues, at this juncture introduction of something that can increase their financial burden can prove detrimental. The complicated and costly new labelling system could have been delayed for some time, at least until businesses could have managed other pressing demands for their recovery. There are other thoughts against the new system as well, the UK's eating disorder charity has said that the system of mandatorily labelling calories could lead to harmful eating disorder thoughts and behaviours. Obesity can have a severe impact on people’s health. It is the second biggest cause of cancer across the UK and needs to be taken care of, but the industry getting impacted most, also needs due consideration to be a part of this noble mission.
Pub Governing Body Welcomes Enhanced Codes of Practice The Pub Governing Body (PGB) has welcomed enhancements made to the Codes of Practice for England & Wales that are now live on the PGB website for tenanted and leased pubs. The Codes apply to pub companies operating less than 500 tied pubs in England & Wales and is a condition of membership for both the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB). In addition to administrative updates, the main areas that have been changed are: A recommendation that a record should be kept of meetings with BDMs; A recommendation that permanent rent concessions or other discounts should be documented; An update to the section on dilapidations;
A new section on the purchase of fixtures and fittings on termination These changes aim to strengthen the current code and reflect key points raised between licensees and pub companies since the Codes came into operation. The section on dilapidations in the lease code also refers to new industry best practice recently published. The Scottish Code is also being reviewed currently. Commenting on the changes, PGB Chair Sir Peter Luff said: “These changes are significant and timely, but what is so very encouraging about them is the constructive spirit in which they have been agreed by the companies and adopted by the PGB. They are further proof that self-regulation works, to the benefit of tenants, to landlords and, indeed, to customers.” Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association Emma McClarkin said:
“We are delighted that both BBPA and IFBB members that operate less than 500 tied pubs have agreed further enhancements to the Codes of Practice. These Codes provide a great foundation for a positive partnership between pub companies and their tenants and lessees. “The fact that very few disputes come before the Pubs Independent Rent Review Scheme and the Pubs Independent Conciliation and Arbitration Service is testament to the Code and we are confident the changes announced today will strengthen these partnerships even further.” The Pub Governing Body members are six of the industry’s leading associations representing both tenants and landlords: UKHospitality, The Licensee Association, The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA), and the Guild of Master Victuallers (GMV).
SMART FLOW Partners With The Harbour Hotel Group For A Nationwide Rollout To Reduce Their Water Consumption Harbour Hotels is on a mission to reduce their water footprint and improve water sustainability after selecting SMART FLOW to install its water monitoring technology nationwide.
As Hospitality organizations begin to feel the pain of skyrocketing water and energy costs, companies are now starting to invest in water saving technologies not only for a return on investment and sustainability, but to future proof their organizations.
Harbour Hotels have multiple properties, each perfectly positioned in some of the UK's most iconic, desirable destinations, feature luxurious bedrooms, excellent inhouse restaurants, high-quality spas and first-class event facilities. It's no wonder the UK’s most exciting and talked-about emerging hotel brand has long relied on cutting-edge technologies to participate in the ecological transition and achieve their sustainability objectives. In this context, the group has appointed SMART FLOW to improve water management and drive sustainability goals.
Dave Hogan the CEO of SMART FLOW notes that “ Our water technology is now empowering companies to take total control of all their water usage and water costs in real time. Our client base is growing stronger with the addition of many brand names like Harbour Hotels. “
Harbour Hotels will have 24/7 real time access to verified information for their portfolio’s water consumption. The technology developed by SMART FLOW will thus enable the group to pursue its sustainability targets concerning water consumption and energy costs.
Gary Hall, Chief Financial Officer, Harbour Hotels, added “More and more, we are taking sustainable-driven decisions and actions as part of our commitment to reduce our environmental impact which meant it was extremely important to find a solution like SMART FLOW which improves water, energy, sustainability and overall water management at Harbour Hotels.” Call +44 203 3688131 or visit www.mysmartflow.uk for further details.
