Food & Drink Transparency Hub: Your Guide to Safety

Purpose of This Hub

Millions of food and drink products are bought in the UK every day. Consumers should be able to find clear information about what products contain, who manufactures them, whether formulations have changed, how ingredients are regulated, and what reliable scientific research says about possible health effects.

This hub brings together manufacturer information, government records, food-safety guidance, scientific databases and health research.

Important Independent Health & Research Disclaimer

Right First Time UK is independent and is not affiliated with any manufacturer, retailer, government department, regulator, university or research organisation linked on this page.

The inclusion of a manufacturer, brand, product or ingredient does not imply wrongdoing or that a product is unsafe.

Scientific evidence can change. Association does not automatically prove causation. Animal, laboratory and observational studies should not be presented as equivalent to high-quality human clinical evidence.

This hub provides general information and research signposting only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

How We Rate Research Evidence

Strong Evidence: Consistent findings from high-quality systematic reviews, major evidence assessments or authoritative health guidance.

Moderate Evidence: Reasonably consistent human research, but important uncertainty remains.

Limited or Observational Evidence: Associations have been reported, but cause and effect have not been established.

Early Research: Laboratory, animal, mechanistic or preliminary human research requiring further investigation.

No Reliable Evidence Found: Claims should not be presented as established facts.

What Can the Public Investigate?

• Who manufactures a product?
• Who owns the manufacturer?
• What ingredients does the product currently contain?
• Has the ingredient list changed since 2021?
• Has sugar, salt or saturated fat changed?
• Have sweeteners been introduced?
• Have emulsifiers or preservatives changed?
• Does the product contain palm oil?
• What does independent research say about an ingredient?
• Who funded the research?
• Were conflicts of interest declared?
• What does the Food Standards Agency say?
• Has the product been recalled?
• What health claims are being made?
• What evidence supports those claims?

How to Investigate a Product

1. Photograph the current packaging.
2. Record the exact product name and size.
3. Record the ingredient list in order.
4. Record the nutrition information.
5. Find historical packaging or manufacturer information.
6. Compare like-for-like products and sizes.
7. Record ingredients added or removed.
8. Compare sugar, salt, fat and saturated fat.
9. Search scientific research for each ingredient.
10. Publish sources and dates alongside conclusions.

How to Investigate an Ingredient

1. Identify the exact ingredient.
2. Check its purpose in food manufacturing.
3. Check UK regulatory information.
4. Search Food Standards Agency information.
5. Search EFSA scientific assessments.
6. Search PubMed.
7. Search Cochrane reviews.
8. Prioritise systematic reviews and human evidence.
9. Check funding and conflicts of interest.
10. Clearly explain uncertainty.

How to Investigate a Manufacturer

1. Identify the manufacturer.
2. Identify the ultimate parent company.
3. Check Companies House where relevant.
4. Check annual reports.
5. Check product ingredient pages.
6. Check sustainability reports.
7. Check lobbying and government meetings where published.
8. Check food recalls.
9. Check advertising rulings.
10. Compare corporate claims with independent evidence.

How to Investigate Scientific Research

1. Read the full study where possible.
2. Identify whether it studied humans, animals or cells.
3. Check sample size.
4. Check study duration.
5. Check whether it shows association or causation.
6. Check funding.
7. Check declared conflicts of interest.
8. Look for systematic reviews.
9. Check whether findings have been replicated.
10. Compare conclusions with official scientific assessments.

Investigating Gut Health

Gut-health research examines fibre, dietary diversity, fermented foods, the microbiome, probiotics, prebiotics and the relationship between diet and health.

The microbiome is an active area of research. Consumers should be cautious about claims that one food, supplement or bacterial strain will treat complex diseases.

Investigating Food and Mental Health

Research increasingly examines relationships between dietary patterns and mental wellbeing. Evidence should distinguish broad dietary patterns from claims about individual foods.

Food should not be presented as a replacement for professional mental-health care.

Foods Commonly Included in Gut-Healthy Dietary Patterns

Research and healthy-eating guidance commonly examine dietary patterns containing vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, beans, pulses, lentils, nuts, seeds and other fibre-rich foods. Some research also examines fermented foods.

The effect of individual foods varies between people. No single food should be presented as a cure for gut disorders.

Foods Commonly Studied in Healthy Dietary Patterns

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Beans and pulses
• Wholegrains
• Nuts and seeds
• Oily fish
• Fibre-rich foods
• Some fermented foods

Research generally provides stronger support for balanced overall dietary patterns than claims that one individual food will prevent or treat a mental-health condition.

Follow the Research

• Who conducted the study?
• Who funded it?
• Were conflicts of interest declared?
• Did it study humans?
• How many participants were included?
• How long did the study last?
• Was there a control group?
• Was it randomised?
• Was it peer reviewed?
• Has it been replicated?
• Is there a systematic review?
• Does the conclusion match the actual results?
• Did news headlines exaggerate the findings?

Follow the Money

• Who owns the manufacturer?
• Who are the major shareholders?
• How much revenue does the company receive?
• How much is spent on advertising?
• Which organisations receive research funding?
• Which researchers declare industry relationships?
• What lobbying activity is published?
• What government meetings have been disclosed?
• Which trade associations represent the manufacturer?
• What sustainability claims are made?
• How are ingredients sourced?

Suggested Public Information & FOI Investigations

• Government meetings with major food manufacturers.
• Correspondence concerning food reformulation policy.
• Research commissioned by government departments.
• Food-industry representation on advisory groups.
• Records concerning sugar and salt reduction programmes.
• Correspondence concerning artificial sweeteners.
• Government records concerning ultra-processed food policy.
• Food-safety research contracts.
• Records concerning children's food advertising.
• Government meetings concerning energy drinks.

Responsible Food & Health Transparency

• Do not claim an ingredient causes disease without reliable evidence.
• Do not present association as proof of causation.
• Distinguish animal studies from human research.
• Distinguish laboratory research from real-world health outcomes.
• Check product ingredients directly.
• Record the date evidence was accessed.
• Compare identical products and serving sizes.
• Distinguish ingredient changes from nutrition changes.
• Check who funded research.
• Report uncertainty fairly.
• Give manufacturers a fair opportunity to respond to serious criticism.
• Correct outdated information promptly.