3 December 1996: "PARNUTS" FOODS - Draft Energy Restricted Foods Regulations

Draft "Foods Intended for Use in Energy Restricted Diets for Weight Reduction Regulations 1997"

The Draft Regulations contain:

• A definition of "relevant food" - specially formulated food intended for use in energy-restricted diets for weight reduction, being food which complies with the compositional requirements in Schedule 1 and which, when used as instructed by the manufacturer, replaces: (a) the whole of the total daily diet; or (b) one or more meals of the daily diet.
• Restrictions on the name of the food and compositional requirements -
  • No person shall sell any relevant food under any name other than "total diet replacement for weight control" or "meal replacement for weight control" as appropriate.
  • No person shall sell any food using the names in a) unless it is a "relevant food".
• Labelling requirements - The Regulations specify the information which has to be given on the label.
• Weight loss claim - No person shall sell any relevant food the labelling, advertising or presentation of which refers to the rate or amount of weight loss which may result from its use or to a reduction in the sense of hunger or an increase in the sense of satiety.
• Packaging - All components of a relevant food intended as a replacement for the whole of the daily diet must be contained in the same package.
• Transitional Defence - It is a defence to prove that an act contrary to the requirements of the Regulations was committed before 31 March 1999

There are 2 Schedules relating to composition:

• Schedule 1 indicates the "Essential Composition of Relevant Foods" including energy, protein, fat, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals.
• Schedule 2 provides the "Amino Acid Requirement Pattern" and is referred to in Schedule 1 under protein.

The Ministry has asked for comments by 28 February 1997