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The label decoder

What a British food packet is legally allowed to claim, and what it has to mean.

Growing nicely

This section is being written. Join the list below and we will tell you when it is ready.

What this section is for

"High in protein" is not a marketing phrase. It is a regulated claim with a threshold behind it, and so are "source of fibre", "light", "reduced fat" and most of the other words on the front of a packet.

Almost nobody writes about what those thresholds actually are. This section does, one claim at a time: what it means, what a product has to contain to say it, and what it does not tell you.

We do not name products, compare prices or recommend anything. The point is that you can pick up any packet and do the arithmetic yourself.

Articles are on their way. In the meantime, how we write explains the standard everything here is held to.

Thursday afternoons

One email a week, under 500 words

Three things worth reading about what Britain is eating, with a line each on why they matter, and one reader question answered. No adverts, no affiliate links, and nothing we would not send a friend.

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