Mr Mehul Parekh

Graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in LLB Law from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), naturally progressing onto the LLM International Business Law Degree at DMU. The Masters dissertation focused on researching whether the existing food labelling legislation within the United Kingdom allows consumers to make an effective and informed transactional decision based on personal requirements stemming from medical conditions and lifestyle choices based on religious or ethical beliefs. It revealed that despite decades of legal reform leading to an almost coherent level of effective food labelling legislation for packaged food items, it still remains a battleground as new plant-based food is produced. Crucially, such reforms do not translate as unequivocally in the realm of unpackaged food. This study both inspired and laid out the groundwork for the PhD research.

The Institute for Evidence-Based Law Reform (IELR)

Consumer Law, Consumer Food Labelling Legislation, Public Law of Consumer Protection, Private Law of Consumer Protection.

LLB (Hons) Law, De Montfort University Leicester.
LLM International Business Law, De Montfort University Leicester.

Title

With regards to unpackaged food, does the current English food legislation protect consumer autonomy in making informed purchase decisions?

Abstract

This project aims to assess consumer protection within the remit of precooked unpackaged food served in cafes, restaurants and other eatery establishments based on obligations set by the current English Food Information Regulations. It primarily investigates whether consumers are being offered a sufficient level of clear, concise and material information, in a uniform manner allowing consumers the right of making an effectively informed purchase decision. Herein, lies the novelty of this thesis as it ventures into unchartered academic territory, where from the presently conducted literature review one finds little authored materials. The thesis also explores the adequacy of measures set by administrative bodies such as the Food Standards Authority (FSA), Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and other related bodies, assessing whether the current aims, functions, approaches and measures appropriately inform, enforce and penalise food establishments to allow for an effective system. Hence, it considers any problems and difficulties faced by administrative authorities in implementing and enforcing the requirements of food information, finding effective solutions where appropriate.

The novelty of this research lies in assessing and identifying any potential consumer rights infringements based on genuine consumer expectations arising from factors such as medical conditions and lifestyle choices, which are often grounded in firm religious or ethical beliefs, some of which are protected by both domestic and various human rights legislation. To asses this, themes and areas like food allergies, the relationship between human rights and religion and ethics-based food diets, misrepresentation of information through improper labelling practices on food menus and displays, subtle discrimination inherent within the existing legislation and any disparities between current legislation and industry practices are explored. However, for a focussed approach legislation on these areas will be researched only as appropriate, keeping within boundaries of the central question in focus.

Martin Morgan-Taylor and Dr Katharine Thompson