Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of improving a) research, b) monitoring and c) labelling of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government published a PFAS Plan on 3 February 2026, which sets out its approach towards protecting human health and the environment from risks posed by PFAS.
Research is being commissioned and coordinated across the Government, regulators, academia and industry to close key evidence-gaps on PFAS health, environmental impacts and innovation of alternatives.
Defra has funded the Environmental Agency to develop one of the most capable PFAS monitoring programmes globally. Using improved analytical methods and data from a range of sources, it covers water, wildlife, soil and industrial emissions.
A number of the most harmful PFAS already have a mandatory classification and labelling for carcinogenicity under the GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging regime.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which animal products will be included in the exploration of method-of-production labelling outlined in the Animal Welfare Strategy, published in December 2025.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Putney, Fleur Anderson, on 26 January 2026, PQ UIN 106592.
Asked by: Maya Ellis (Labour - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's consultation outcome on fairer food labelling entitled Summary of responses and government response, updated on 12 June 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of introducing method of production labelling on (a) the economy and (b) farm incomes.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Putney, Fleur Anderson, on 29 January 2026, PQ UIN 106592.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the usage of non-compostable fresh produce stickers.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department has not considered the potential impact of non-compostable fresh produce stickers on the bio-waste industry and soil health and does not currently have plans to discourage or ban the use of these stickers.
However, we remain committed to supporting sustainable packaging solutions and continue to monitor developments in this area.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to introduce fair food labelling to provide clear information on sourcing and production.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. All food sold on the UK market must comply with food labelling rules, which include the requirement for specific information to be presented in a specific way.
Food origin information is mandatory for some, but not all foods. In all cases where origin is provided, it must not be misleading. We continue to review origin labelling using comprehensive evidence to ensure clear and transparent labelling for consumers.
As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, we will work with stakeholders to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on developing the proposals in the 2024 Fairer Food Labelling consultation.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As set out in the animal welfare strategy, the Government is committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, the department will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare. Defra will set out next steps in due course.
The Government will continue to review origin labelling and aim to use the outcomes of the Fairer Food Labelling consultation as supporting evidence for future labelling policy.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will convene an expert group of industry representatives, animal welfare organisations and other stakeholders to advise on developing a method of production labelling scheme.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, the department is committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, Defra will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare. The Government will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with retailers and animal welfare organisations on introducing method of production labelling on domestic and imported animal products.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department engaged with a range of animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of the animal welfare strategy, which was published in December 2025.
As set out in the strategy, Defra is committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, we will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the public is aware of the safe upper limit for daily vitamin D supplementation.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Food supplements, including vitamin D supplements, are regulated in the United Kingdom under the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, as well as other applicable food law, along with equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Department is responsible for this legislation in England, working closely with the Food Standards Agency and local authorities, who lead on enforcement. Further information on the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1387/made/data.pdf
The regulations have specific labelling requirements to support consumers to make informed choices. Food supplements legislation requires manufacturers to include the recommended dose and a warning not to exceed the stated dose on the label. The Department has published guidance to businesses on complying with the regulations, which is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-guidance-and-faqs
Although food supplements legislation does not set statutory maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, industry is encouraged to follow voluntary guidelines for safe upper levels, which for vitamin D is 100 micrograms, or 4,000 International Units, daily. The Department does not currently have plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D or other supplements.
The National Health Service website provides clear public advice on the daily recommended intake for vitamin D and warns of the potential harmful effects of taking too much vitamin D through food supplements. Further information is avaiable on the NHS website, at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
The Department always advises consumers to follow NHS guidance and consult a health professional if in doubt. The Department does not systematically collect data for people with health issues owing to excess vitamin D consumption.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department have made of the number of people with health issues related to excessive consumption of vitamin D supplements in each of the last five years.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Food supplements, including vitamin D supplements, are regulated in the United Kingdom under the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, as well as other applicable food law, along with equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Department is responsible for this legislation in England, working closely with the Food Standards Agency and local authorities, who lead on enforcement. Further information on the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1387/made/data.pdf
The regulations have specific labelling requirements to support consumers to make informed choices. Food supplements legislation requires manufacturers to include the recommended dose and a warning not to exceed the stated dose on the label. The Department has published guidance to businesses on complying with the regulations, which is avaiable at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-guidance-and-faqs
Although food supplements legislation does not set statutory maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, industry is encouraged to follow voluntary guidelines for safe upper levels, which for vitamin D is 100 micrograms, or 4,000 International Units, daily. The Department does not currently have plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D or other supplements.
The National Health Service website provides clear public advice on the daily recommended intake for vitamin D and warns of the potential harmful effects of taking too much vitamin D through food supplements. Further information is avaiable on the NHS website, at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
The Department always advises consumers to follow NHS guidance and consult a health professional if in doubt. The Department does not systematically collect data for people with health issues owing to excess vitamin D consumption.