The Foods Intended for Use in Energy Restricted Diets for Weight Reduction Regulations 1997

Regulations 1(2) and 3(b)

SCHEDULE 1 ESSENTIAL COMPOSITION OF RELEVANT FOOD

The specifications refer to the products ready for use, sold as such or reconstituted as instructed by the manufacturer.

Energy

1.1  The energy provided by a product mentioned in regulation 2(1)(a) shall not be less than 3360 kJ (800 kcal) and shall not exceed 5040 kJ (1200 kcal) for the total daily ration.

1.2  The energy provided by a product mentioned in regulation 2(1)(b) shall not be less than 840 kJ (200 kcal) and shall not exceed 1680 kJ (400 kcal) per meal.

Protein

2.1  The protein contained in products mentioned in regulation 2(1)(a) and (b) shall provide not less than 25% and not more than 50% of the total energy of the product. In any case the amount of protein of products mentioned in regulation 2(1)(a) shall not exceed 125 g.

2.2  The above-mentioned provisions on protein refer to a protein the chemical index of which is equal to that of the FAO/WHO (1985) reference protein given in Schedule 2. If the chemical index is lower than 100% of the reference protein, the minimum protein levels shall be correspondingly increased. In any case the chemical index of the protein shall at least be equal to 80% of that of the reference protein.

2.3  The ‘chemical index’ shall mean the lowest of the ratios between the quantity of each essential amino acid of the test protein in and the quantity of each corresponding amino acid of the reference protein.

2.4  In all cases, the addition of amino acids is permitted solely for the purpose of improving the nutritional value of the proteins, and only in the proportions necessary for that purpose.

Fat

3.1  The energy derived from fat shall not exceed 30% of the total available energy of the product.

3.2  For products mentioned in regulation 2(1)(a), the linoleic acid (in the form of glycerides) shall not be less than 4.5 g.

3.3  For products mentioned in regulation 2(1)(b), the linoleic acid (in the form of glycerides) shall not be less than 1 g.

Dietary fibre

4.  The dietary fibre content of products mentioned in regulation 2(1)(a) shall not be less than 10 g and shall not exceed 30 g for the daily ration.

Vitamins and minerals

5.1  The products mentioned in regulation 2(1)(a) shall provide for the whole of the daily diet at least 100% of the amounts of vitamins and minerals specified in the Table below.

5.2  The products mentioned in regulation 2(1)(b) shall provide at least 30% of the amounts of vitamins and minerals specified in the Table below per meal; however, the amount of potassium per meal provided by these products shall be at least 500 mg.

TABLE

Vitamin A	(μg RE)	700
Vitamin D	(μg)	5
Vitamin E	(mg-TE)	10
Vitamin C	(mg)	45
Thiamin	(mg)	1.1
Riboflavin	(mg)	1.6
Niacin	(mg-NE)	18
Vitamin B6	(mg)	1.5
Folate	(μg)	200
Vitamin B12	(μg)	1.4
Biotin	(μg)	15
Pantothenic acid	(mg)	3
Calcium	(mg)	700
Phosphorus	(mg)	550
Potassium	(mg)	3100
Iron	(mg)	16
Zinc	(mg)	9.5
Copper	(mg)	1.1
Iodine	(μg)	130
Selenium	(μg)	55
Sodium	(mg)	575
Magnesium	(mg)	150
Manganese	(mg)	1