Response 846771408

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Questions

Question 1. Should mandatory calorie labelling at point of choice, for example, menus, menu boards or digital ordering apps in the Out of Home sector (as listed in paragraph 1.2) in Scotland be implemented?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No
Radio button: Unticked Don't know
Please explain your answer
Including this calorie labelling will bring increased distress to those with eating disorders. Including this information will make eating in the OOH sector impossible and inaccessible for the majority of those with eating disorders, myself included. Eating disorders are horrible mental illnesses that can leave someone destroyed physically and emotionally, can break families apart and harm relationships. I, due to my eating disorder was at risk of many and experienced many health impacts, such as risk of heart attack, fainting, heart arrhythmias, hypothermia, suicide attempts, self-harm and other mental and physical issues. I was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward because of my eating disorder, where I had even more horrible experiences and was forced away from my family. I was a child when this happened and have been throughout the majority of my eating disorder.

If this proposed legislation goes ahead, there will be more eating disorders, and more than Scotland's NHS can cope with. There are already incredibly long waiting lists for mental health services in Scotland, for both CAMHS and AMHS. There are only 48 CAMHS inpatient beds in Scotland and only so many professionals to go around. NHS Scotland will quickly become inundated with referrals because of eating disorders due to the increased focus on calories, 'health', intake and body. Evidence has shown that those with restrictive eating disorders are more likely to choose a meal with fewer calories and those with Binge Eating Disorder are more likely to choose one with higher calories. Including this information will help no one. It is already difficult enough for someone with an eating disorder to go out to a restaurant. They have to deal with eating in public, dealing with someone else making their food, not knowing exactly what's in their food, all whilst battling their typical eating disorder cognitions. Adding caloric information will only make this experience that much harder for them, and in some cases impossible. Eating in the OOH sector is essential for someone suffering from an eating disorder's recovery.

By introducing this, the government would be harming many of their citizens, including children. This isn't fair and it isn't right. Some restaurants, especially chain ones already have calorie information available online, so people can look there if they're interested. This legislation is not in the interests of public health and will only harm us more.

Question 2. Should any of the sectors listed in paragraph 1.2 be exempt from mandatory calorie labelling? If yes, please explain why.

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Radio button: Unticked Don't know
Please explain your answer
Supermarkets and other places selling 'food on the go'. Some still feel or have the need to have calorie information included on food packets.

Question 3. To which size of business in scope of the policy, should mandatory calorie labelling apply:

Please select all that apply
Checkbox: Unticked All businesses
Checkbox: Unticked All except businesses with fewer than 10 employees (micro)
Checkbox: Unticked All except businesses with fewer than 50 employees (small and micro)
Checkbox: Unticked All except businesses with fewer than 250 employees (medium, small and micro)
Checkbox: Ticked None
Checkbox: Unticked Other
Checkbox: Unticked Don’t know
Please explain your answer
Same answer as to question 1:
Including this calorie labelling will bring increased distress to those with eating disorders. Including this information will make eating in the OOH sector impossible and inaccessible for the majority of those with eating disorders, myself included. Eating disorders are horrible mental illnesses that can leave someone destroyed physically and emotionally, can break families apart and harm relationships. I, due to my eating disorder was at risk of many and experienced many health impacts, such as risk of heart attack, fainting, heart arrhythmias, hypothermia, suicide attempts, self-harm and other mental and physical issues. I was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward because of my eating disorder, where I had even more horrible experiences and was forced away from my family. I was a child when this happened and have been throughout the majority of my eating disorder.

If this proposed legislation goes ahead, there will be more eating disorders, and more than Scotland's NHS can cope with. There are already incredibly long waiting lists for mental health services in Scotland, for both CAMHS and AMHS. There are only 48 CAMHS inpatient beds in Scotland and only so many professionals to go around. NHS Scotland will quickly become inundated with referrals because of eating disorders due to the increased focus on calories, 'health', intake and body. Evidence has shown that those with restrictive eating disorders are more likely to choose a meal with fewer calories and those with Binge Eating Disorder are more likely to choose one with higher calories. Including this information will help no one. It is already difficult enough for someone with an eating disorder to go out to a restaurant. They have to deal with eating in public, dealing with someone else making their food, not knowing exactly what's in their food, all whilst battling their typical eating disorder cognitions. Adding caloric information will only make this experience that much harder for them, and in some cases impossible. Eating in the OOH sector is essential for someone suffering from an eating disorder's recovery.

By introducing this, the government would be harming many of their citizens, including children. This isn't fair and it isn't right. Some restaurants, especially chain ones already have calorie information available online, so people can look there if they're interested. This legislation is not in the interests of public health and will only harm us more.

Question 4 . We are considering including food provided for residents and/or patients within the following public sector institutions within the scope of the policy. Should food in these settings be included within the scope of the policy?

Hospitals Yes Radio button: Not checked Yes Hospitals No Radio button: Checked No Hospitals Don't know Radio button: Not checked Don't know
Prisons Yes Radio button: Not checked Yes Prisons No Radio button: Not checked No Prisons Don't know Radio button: Not checked Don't know
Adult care settings Yes Radio button: Not checked Yes Adult care settings No Radio button: Not checked No Adult care settings Don't know Radio button: Not checked Don't know
Military settings Yes Radio button: Not checked Yes Military settings No Radio button: Not checked No Military settings Don't know Radio button: Not checked Don't know
Please explain your answers
The question wouldn't let me say no to all of the above questions. My answer would be no for all of them.

People with eating disorders/those who are susceptible to eating disorders still use these services and are in these settings. We need to make sure that these places are inclusive and that people aren't being harmed from them.

I have been a patient in hospital whilst having an eating disorder (not a psychiatric one). This stay was because of a suicide attempt. This suicide ideation was mostly caused by my eating disorder. Having calorie information on these menus would make me even less likely to eat. I don't need to be afraid of receiving medical treatment, especially inpatient treatment because of what impact it may have on my eating disorder and my ability to eat.

Question 5 . The intention is that pre packed for direct sale (PPDS) foods would fall within the scope of the policy. Do you agree with that proposal?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Radio button: Ticked Don’t know
Please explain your answer
This already happens and I understand that some do need to find out the calorie information for these, whilst using convenience food. Labelling these foods with the calories should not become mandatory as it can mean that some places are at least still accessible to people with eating disorders or who struggle with disorder eating.

Question 6 . Should the foods and drinks listed below be exempt from calorie labelling? (please state your view for each of the above)

Non-standard menu items prepared on request Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Non-standard menu items prepared on request No Radio button: Not checked No Non-standard menu items prepared on request Don't know Radio button: Not checked Don't know
Alcoholic drinks Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Alcoholic drinks No Radio button: Not checked No Alcoholic drinks Don't know Radio button: Not checked Don't know
Menu items for sale 30 days or less Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Menu items for sale 30 days or less No Radio button: Not checked No Menu items for sale 30 days or less Don't know Radio button: Not checked Don't know
Condiments added by consumer Yes Radio button: Checked Yes Condiments added by consumer No Radio button: Not checked No Condiments added by consumer Don't know Radio button: Not checked Don't know
Please explain your answer
Same answer as to questions 1 and 3:
Including this calorie labelling will bring increased distress to those with eating disorders. Including this information will make eating in the OOH sector impossible and inaccessible for the majority of those with eating disorders, myself included. Eating disorders are horrible mental illnesses that can leave someone destroyed physically and emotionally, can break families apart and harm relationships. I, due to my eating disorder was at risk of many and experienced many health impacts, such as risk of heart attack, fainting, heart arrhythmias, hypothermia, suicide attempts, self-harm and other mental and physical issues. I was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward because of my eating disorder, where I had even more horrible experiences and was forced away from my family. I was a child when this happened and have been throughout the majority of my eating disorder.

If this proposed legislation goes ahead, there will be more eating disorders, and more than Scotland's NHS can cope with. There are already incredibly long waiting lists for mental health services in Scotland, for both CAMHS and AMHS. There are only 48 CAMHS inpatient beds in Scotland and only so many professionals to go around. NHS Scotland will quickly become inundated with referrals because of eating disorders due to the increased focus on calories, 'health', intake and body. Evidence has shown that those with restrictive eating disorders are more likely to choose a meal with fewer calories and those with Binge Eating Disorder are more likely to choose one with higher calories. Including this information will help no one. It is already difficult enough for someone with an eating disorder to go out to a restaurant. They have to deal with eating in public, dealing with someone else making their food, not knowing exactly what's in their food, all whilst battling their typical eating disorder cognitions. Adding caloric information will only make this experience that much harder for them, and in some cases impossible. Eating in the OOH sector is essential for someone suffering from an eating disorder's recovery.

By introducing this, the government would be harming many of their citizens, including children. This isn't fair and it isn't right. Some restaurants, especially chain ones already have calorie information available online, so people can look there if they're interested. This legislation is not in the interests of public health and will only harm us more.

Question 7 . Should menus marketed specifically at children be exempt from calorie labelling?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Radio button: Unticked Don’t know
Please explain your answer
Similar answers as to 1, 3 and 6:

Including this calorie labelling will bring increased distress to those with eating disorders. Including this information will make eating in the OOH sector impossible and inaccessible for the majority of those with eating disorders, myself included. Eating disorders are horrible mental illnesses that can leave someone destroyed physically and emotionally, can break families apart and harm relationships. I, due to my eating disorder was at risk of many and experienced many health impacts, such as risk of heart attack, fainting, heart arrhythmias, hypothermia, suicide attempts, self-harm and other mental and physical issues. I was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward because of my eating disorder, where I had even more horrible experiences and was forced away from my family. I was a child when this happened and have been throughout the majority of my eating disorder.

If this proposed legislation goes ahead, there will be more eating disorders, and more than Scotland's NHS can cope with. There are already incredibly long waiting lists for mental health services in Scotland, for both CAMHS and AMHS. There are only 48 CAMHS inpatient beds in Scotland and only so many professionals to go around. NHS Scotland will quickly become inundated with referrals because of eating disorders due to the increased focus on calories, 'health', intake and body. Evidence has shown that those with restrictive eating disorders are more likely to choose a meal with fewer calories and those with Binge Eating Disorder are more likely to choose one with higher calories. Including this information will help no one. It is already difficult enough for someone with an eating disorder to go out to a restaurant. They have to deal with eating in public, dealing with someone else making their food, not knowing exactly what's in their food, all whilst battling their typical eating disorder cognitions. Adding caloric information will only make this experience that much harder for them, and in some cases impossible. Eating in the OOH sector is essential for someone suffering from an eating disorder's recovery.

By introducing this, the government would be harming many of their citizens, including children. This isn't fair and it isn't right. Some restaurants, especially chain ones already have calorie information available online, so people can look there if they're interested. This legislation is not in the interests of public health and will only harm us more.

I first developed an eating disorder at the age of 9. It can happen incredibly young. We need to protect our children and young people. If we include this information, we're putting many children at risk of developing an eating disorder. You do not want an eight-year old child with an eating disorder, ripped away from their family in an inpatient hospital with an NG tube and their organs failing.

Question 8. Should businesses be required to provide calorie information about options on children’s menus to parents and carers on request?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No
Radio button: Unticked Don’t know
Please explain your answer
Similar answers as to 1, 3 and 6:

Including this calorie labelling will bring increased distress to those with eating disorders. Including this information will make eating in the OOH sector impossible and inaccessible for the majority of those with eating disorders, myself included. Eating disorders are horrible mental illnesses that can leave someone destroyed physically and emotionally, can break families apart and harm relationships. I, due to my eating disorder was at risk of many and experienced many health impacts, such as risk of heart attack, fainting, heart arrhythmias, hypothermia, suicide attempts, self-harm and other mental and physical issues. I was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward because of my eating disorder, where I had even more horrible experiences and was forced away from my family. I was a child when this happened and have been throughout the majority of my eating disorder.

If this proposed legislation goes ahead, there will be more eating disorders, and more than Scotland's NHS can cope with. There are already incredibly long waiting lists for mental health services in Scotland, for both CAMHS and AMHS. There are only 48 CAMHS inpatient beds in Scotland and only so many professionals to go around. NHS Scotland will quickly become inundated with referrals because of eating disorders due to the increased focus on calories, 'health', intake and body. Evidence has shown that those with restrictive eating disorders are more likely to choose a meal with fewer calories and those with Binge Eating Disorder are more likely to choose one with higher calories. Including this information will help no one. It is already difficult enough for someone with an eating disorder to go out to a restaurant. They have to deal with eating in public, dealing with someone else making their food, not knowing exactly what's in their food, all whilst battling their typical eating disorder cognitions. Adding caloric information will only make this experience that much harder for them, and in some cases impossible. Eating in the OOH sector is essential for someone suffering from an eating disorder's recovery.

By introducing this, the government would be harming many of their citizens, including children. This isn't fair and it isn't right. Some restaurants, especially chain ones already have calorie information available online, so people can look there if they're interested. This legislation is not in the interests of public health and will only harm us more.

I first developed an eating disorder at the age of 9. It can happen incredibly young. We need to protect our children and young people. If we include this information, we're putting many children at risk of developing an eating disorder. You do not want an eight-year old child with an eating disorder, ripped away from their family in an inpatient hospital with an NG tube and their organs failing.
Children should not be subject to diets, weight loss (without unbiased medical opinion) or feeling as though they need to chose their food based on how many numbers it has, instead of how much they like it.

Question 9. What are your views on the proposed requirements shown below for the display of calorie information?

Calorie information should be provided at all points of choice
No. Calorie information should not be provided at all points of choice, especially not in cafes, all types of restaurants, takeaways, pubs/bars, bakeries, sweet and dessert shops, vending machines, workplace canteens, hotels, mobile caterers, leisure and entertainment venues, places where we purchase food and non-alcoholic drinks when commuting or travelling, and OOH businesses in the public sector, including food provided for staff and visitors in prisons, military settings, and adult care and health care settings.
Calorie information should be displayed in the same font and size as the price
No, this draws more attention to the calories, which is very harmful for those with eating disorders. By averting my eyes, I can try to avoid seeing the calorie content of something, which is helpful during my recovery from an eating disorder. This suggests to the public that calories are very important and something they need to be paying attention to. By doing this we'll be teaching children that they need to count their calories.
Calorie information should be provided in calorie only and not also kilojoule
N/A
Calorie information should include the reference statement of “adults need around 2,000 calories a day”
No. This is just simply not true. Adults bodies aren't the same. Every single person needs a different amount of calories. A 6'6" Olympic athlete is not going to need the same as someone who is 5' and immobile. Our bodies are not the same every day, one needs different energy amounts depending on their activity, the season, their health etc. This just bring extra attention to calorie counting and can influence people to feel the need to count their calories.

Question 10. Should businesses be required or provide the option to have menus without calorie information available on request of the consumer?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked It should be a requirement for businesses
Radio button: Unticked It should be an option for businesses
Radio button: Unticked Don’t know
Please explain your answer
Yes. Similar answer as before:

Including this calorie labelling will bring increased distress to those with eating disorders. Including this information will make eating in the OOH sector impossible and inaccessible for the majority of those with eating disorders, myself included. Eating disorders are horrible mental illnesses that can leave someone destroyed physically and emotionally, can break families apart and harm relationships. I, due to my eating disorder was at risk of many and experienced many health impacts, such as risk of heart attack, fainting, heart arrhythmias, hypothermia, suicide attempts, self-harm and other mental and physical issues. I was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward because of my eating disorder, where I had even more horrible experiences and was forced away from my family. I was a child when this happened and have been throughout the majority of my eating disorder.

If this proposed legislation goes ahead, there will be more eating disorders, and more than Scotland's NHS can cope with. There are already incredibly long waiting lists for mental health services in Scotland, for both CAMHS and AMHS. There are only 48 CAMHS inpatient beds in Scotland and only so many professionals to go around. NHS Scotland will quickly become inundated with referrals because of eating disorders due to the increased focus on calories, 'health', intake and body. Evidence has shown that those with restrictive eating disorders are more likely to choose a meal with fewer calories and those with Binge Eating Disorder are more likely to choose one with higher calories. Including this information will help no one. It is already difficult enough for someone with an eating disorder to go out to a restaurant. They have to deal with eating in public, dealing with someone else making their food, not knowing exactly what's in their food, all whilst battling their typical eating disorder cognitions. Adding caloric information will only make this experience that much harder for them, and in some cases impossible. Eating in the OOH sector is essential for someone suffering from an eating disorder's recovery.

By introducing this, the government would be harming many of their citizens, including children. This isn't fair and it isn't right. This legislation is not in the interests of public health and will only harm us more.

It is imperative that this is a legal requirement should mandatory calorie labelling be passed into law as not doing this is only restricting life for those who suffer with eating disorders and disorder eating. It's ableist to not mandate menus without calorie information.

Question 11. If businesses are required to also have menus without calorie information available on request of the consumer, what practical implications would this have for businesses?

Please give us your views
Any large menus that are displayed, any menus that are outside the restaurant (e.g at the door/window) or any other menus that are viewed by everyone, would not include calories.
There would be no descriptions of foods/groups of foods that contain information detailing calories. For example, some restaurants have images or stickers that say '600 calories or less' or have descriptions that say 'less than half the calories'.
Businesses would either ask the customers which menu they would like or they can display that these menus are available upon request.

Question 12. What other mitigated measures could be adopted for consumers who may find calorie information upsetting?

Please give us your views
Any large menus that are displayed, any menus that are outside the restaurant (e.g at the door/window) or any other menus that are viewed by everyone, would not include calories.
There would be no descriptions of foods/groups of foods that contain information detailing calories. For example, some restaurants have images or stickers that say '600 calories or less' or have descriptions that say 'less than half the calories'.
Businesses would instead provide menus with calories upon request of the customer, instead of the reverse.
All menus would be available with or without calories, not only the main ones, e.g special menus, drinks menus, dessert menus.

Question 13 . Please list any costs to businesses in addition to those listed that you think need to be considered in our economic evaluation.

Please give us your views
N/A

Question 14 . What support, in addition to detailed written guidance, would businesses need to implement calorie labelling effectively?

Please explain your answer
Advice on not commenting on calorie contents of customer's choices.

Question 15 . From the publication of relevant guidance, what length of time would businesses need to prepare to implement calorie labelling effectively ahead of legislation coming into force?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked 6 months
Radio button: Unticked 12 months
Radio button: Unticked 18 months
Radio button: Unticked 2 years
Radio button: Unticked Other
Radio button: Ticked Don’t know

Questions

Question 16. Please comment on our proposals for enforcement and implementation outlined in section 10.

Please give us your views
N/A

Question 17 . How could any requirements be enforced, in a way that is fair and not overly burdensome?

Please give us your views
N/A

Question 18 . What impacts, if any, do you think the proposed policy would have on people on the basis of their: age, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, disability, gender reassignment and marriage/civil partnership? Please consider both potentially positive and negative impacts and provide evidence where available. Comment on each characteristic individually.

Please give us your views
This will negatively impact young people and children due to the impressionability that they have at this age and the developmental stage they are at. This will lead to increased focus on weight, body, calories and food intake for them. This will then cause increased risk of eating disorders and disordered eating.
This will negatively impact pregnant people as they may end up undereating due to the need they may feel to have a lower calorie meal. Pregnant people need more food than the average person due to the immense change that they are going through and what their body is doing. Undereating puts them and their child at risk.
This will negatively impact disabled people, specifically those who are mentally ill as eating disorders are mental illnesses. Many with a mental illness are then susceptible to other mental illnesses and may then develop an eating disorder due to this. Or this will just negatively impact their overall mental health.
This will negatively impact people of a sexual orientation that is not straight and those who are transgender as mental illness rates and overall mental health is worse for these groups. There are increased risks of suicide and mental illness, meaning they're also at immense risk of developing an eating disorder. Transgender people are even more at risk for developing an eating disorder and are more affected than the cisgender population by relativity.

Question 19. What impacts, if any, do you think the proposed policy would have on people living with socio-economic disadvantage? Please consider both potentially positive and negative impacts and provide evidence where available.

Please give us your views
N/A

Question 20 . Please use this space to identify other communities or population groups who you consider may be differentially impacted by this policy proposal. Please consider both potentially positive and negative impacts and provide evidence where available.

Please give us your views
Mentally ill people will be negatively impact, especially those with eating disorders. Many mentally ill people are at risk of developing additional mental illnesses, therefore putting them at more risk of developing an eating disorder due to potential calorie labelling on menus.

Question 21 . Please tell us about any other potential unintended consequences (positive or negative) to businesses, consumers or others you consider may arise from the proposals set out in this consultation.

Please give us your views
Negative impacts include increased dislike and negative focus on body, weight, and calorie intake. This will increase eating disorders and will increase the amount of people with disordered eating.

Question 22 . Please outline any other comments you wish to make on this consultation.

Please give us your views
This legislation would only do more harm than good. There are other ways to tackle the obesity epidemic that won't cause another epidemic at the same time (eating disorders) and won't endanger some of the population.

About you

Are you responding as an individual or an organisation?

Please select one item
(Required)
Radio button: Ticked Individual
Radio button: Unticked Organisation