Why does Diabetes UK ban companies from calling foods Diabetic

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Jenny105

Jenny105

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My MP, and 2 other diabetic friends discovered that food companies are not allowed to call foods, Diabetic or diabetes friendly. Diabetes UK banned this .
 
This seems to be the announcement made back in 2016.

www.diabetes.org.uk

‘Suitable for diabetics’ labels off the shelves from today

A change in food regulation means that from today manufacturers will no longer be able to label food as ‘diabetic’ or ‘suitable for diabetics’.Diabetes UK has welcomed the change and has lobbied for over 30 years for the end of the labels which incorrectly imply a health benefit for people with...
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk
 
This happened years ago, and there are many good reasons why.
 
Jenny105 said:
My MP, and 2 other diabetic friends discovered that food companies are not allowed to call foods, Diabetic or diabetes friendly. Diabetes UK banned this .
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Yes, because the labels were often misleading, especially to those newly diagnosed. The labels weren’t there to help those people, they were to sell products and make money.

People with diabetes should eat normal food, choosing the type and quantity according to their individual needs. We don’t need ‘special’ foods. They only benefit the producers who want to make money.

More than that, what’s suitable for one person with diabetes won’t be suitable for others, so it’s completely misleading. Also, many of the diabetic products contained vast amounts of sweeteners with unpleasant side effects - plus the products largely tasted gross and were over-priced.
 
It wasn’t Diabetes U.K. who banned them. It was the government and rightly so. You’d have wept to see people misled into buying them.

Here’s a quote from the article above, with my bold:

A change in food regulation means that from today manufacturers will no longer be able to label food as ‘diabetic’ or ‘suitable for diabetics’.
Diabetes UK has welcomed the change and has lobbied for over 30 years for the end of the labels which incorrectly imply a health benefit for people with diabetes and have been seen as essential over mainstream alternatives.
However, analysis has found that because many of the products carrying the label – including jams, ice creams, cakes, biscuits and chocolates – contained polyols, they were not any lower in fat or calories compared to the standard products, so could lead to weight gain. They were also often more expensive than regular products.
Natasha Marsland, Senior Clinical Advisor at Diabetes UK, said: “It is great news that this label has gone from our shelves. For too long, people with diabetes and well-meaning friends and relatives have been misled into buying products they think would benefit diabetes management. People with diabetes can meet their nutritional needs from everyday foods, just like people without diabetes.
 

Why does Diabetes UK ban companies from calling foods Diabetic​

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They didn't it was the government 🙂
Which foods are you referring to? Also are these imaginary foods type1 or type2 diabetic? :rofl:
 
The foods which were labelled “diabetic” did often contain less sugar, but still contained carbohydrate, so weren’t actually any better for you. And has been said, not all diabetic people have the same requirements when it comes to food. Those on insulin can eat what they like as long as they inject correctly for it. Those who aren’t may be on other medications to help them, which work in different ways. Even if you are purely diet and exercise controlled, different people can get away with different things. So there is no one size fits all ”diabetic” food and it should not be labelled as such.
 
Diabetes UK campaigned for ages before the government changed the rules.

When I was first diagnosed there were shelves in Boots full of them - and all of them far less nice, and no more suitable for me than ‘proper’ versions - plus they gave me terrible wind (and some got explosive diarrhoea) when some well-meaning relatives bought them for me at Christmas. Never again!
 
Recently a friend diagnosed a few years ago with unusual family situation was using Wiltshire Farm foods, eating D foods. His DN was delighted with his progress. Thats all gone as the D marking has been removed. His position has deteriorated. No he cant cook his own
 
MyMP went to a D UK conference. She contacted the Min of Health and got no where
 
A little context should be put, regarding the era these food “treats” came out. And who they catered for.
My view is they were around at a time when my treatment was far less flexible than today. There wasn’t any “diet soda” freely available until the late 1970s on the high street let alone the chemist. Though I do seem to remember cordial alongside the other products.

I agree with @everydayupsanddowns assessment on these “treats.” I quickly learned to leave it alone.
 
Jenny105 said:
Recently a friend diagnosed a few years ago with unusual family situation was using Wiltshire Farm foods, eating D foods. His DN was delighted with his progress. Thats all gone as the D marking has been removed. His position has deteriorated. No he cant cook his own
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Is there any way your friend could contact WFF for nutritional information suitable for the requirements?
Sorry to hear of your friend’s deterioration.
 
Jenny105 said:
Recently a friend diagnosed a few years ago with unusual family situation was using Wiltshire Farm foods, eating D foods. His DN was delighted with his progress. Thats all gone as the D marking has been removed. His position has deteriorated. No he cant cook his own
Click to expand...

I think other members (carer/partner) have mentioned using Wiltshire Farm Foods range for T2 relatives. So I think it is possible to successfully choose from their regular menu and find BG-friendly choices?
 
Jenny105 said:
Recently a friend diagnosed a few years ago with unusual family situation was using Wiltshire Farm foods, eating D foods. His DN was delighted with his progress. Thats all gone as the D marking has been removed. His position has deteriorated. No he cant cook his own
Click to expand...
But they do a range of low sugar meals and slimming world or weightwatchers have low carb meals if you choose carefully.
 
Jenny105 said:
MyMP went to a D UK conference. She contacted the Min of Health and got no where
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Sorry, but good. Those ‘diabetic’ foods did no-one any favours. I too remember the shelves of them in Boots and poor, unsuspecting people carefully choosing ‘diabetic’ biscuits, ‘diabetic’ chocolate and ‘diabetic’ Xmas pudding. They were foul, expensive and there was no getting through to the people choosing them because they’d been misled to think they should.
 
Jenny105 said:
MyMP went to a D UK conference. She contacted the Min of Health and got no where
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@Leadinglights The catalogue I viewed didnt have any nutritional guidance at least not on every page. I emaailed them to say I wasnt using their foods as back up items anymore
I will pass your comments on to the friend
My MP had a discussion re food labelling . She wrote to the Min of Health . Sadly the response she sent to me got tangled up with an email box failure
 
Inka said:
Sorry, but good. Those ‘diabetic’ foods did no-one any favours. I too remember the shelves of them in Boots and poor, unsuspecting people carefully choosing ‘diabetic’ biscuits, ‘diabetic’ chocolate and ‘diabetic’ Xmas pudding. They were foul, expensive and there was no getting through to the people choosing them because they’d been misled to think they should.
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My intent wasnt that specialized stuff. Nor powders but everyday cooked foods to have from time to time. And for the occasional dessert . It takes me ages to check out foods, online for sugar, carbs , fat sat, fat.
I am trying to add weight so Im scouring the shelves for new safe ideas. Fortunately I can do a lot of my own recipes, or D UK 1800 cal recipes, but still scour the PC for some occasional ready made ideas.
 
But you’re trying to put on weight. Others might want more or less carbs than you. So how could they label foods? All foods are safe. We all have different dietary needs even though we have diabetes. It would be like labelling foods For Women or For People with Wavy Hair - meaningless.
 
Jenny105 said:
My MP, and 2 other diabetic friends discovered that food companies are not allowed to call foods, Diabetic or diabetes friendly. Diabetes UK banned this .
Click to expand...
Because there’s no such thing as a diabetic food. Diabetics are recommended a healthy diet just like anyone else.
 
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