New UK Survey Seeks To Give VI People A Voice On Braille Food Labelling

For most of us, picking up a food packet and checking what it contains is something we do without a second thought. We can read the name of a product, check ingredients, find cooking instructions and look at an expiry date in a matter of seconds.

But for blind and partially sighted people, accessing that same information can be far more difficult.

Now, a new UK-wide survey is asking blind and partially sighted people to share their experiences of food packaging, with the aim of building a stronger evidence base for mandatory braille food labelling.

The survey has been launched by Sight Scotland, Disability Equality Scotland and partners. It will explore the everyday challenges people face when identifying, storing and using food products, as well as the ways they currently overcome those barriers.

The findings will help inform Food Standards Scotland’s Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment and contribute to discussions with UK Government departments, including DEFRA, about potential future changes to food labelling policy.

Food labels can be a barrier to independence

Food packaging contains information that is essential to making informed choices. From ingredients and allergens to cooking instructions and use-by dates, being able to identify a product safely and confidently matters.

Yet research by Disability Equality Scotland in 2023 found that three-quarters of blind and partially sighted people find food labels inaccessible.

That lack of accessibility can have consequences far beyond inconvenience.

Not being able to distinguish between similar products, identify something in a cupboard or freezer, or check important information independently can mean having to rely on another person.

For someone who values their independence, that can be frustrating, stressful and, in some circumstances, a safety concern.

“This isn’t about convenience”

Veronica Whymant, 43, from St Andrews, has lived with visual impairment since birth after being born prematurely. She says that accessible food labelling could make a significant difference to her everyday life.

For Veronica, braille on food packaging isn’t simply about making shopping easier.

It’s about having the freedom to make her own decisions.

She describes how maintaining her independence has involved determination, organisation and adapting to a world largely designed around people who can see.

At home, Veronica carefully catalogues the food in her cupboards and freezer so that she knows where everything is. That organisation helps her avoid mistakes, but it also highlights the additional effort that visually impaired people may need to put into everyday tasks.

Braille labels, she says, would provide reassurance and confidence while reducing uncertainty.

As Veronica puts it, “This isn’t about convenience, it’s about dignity, equality and choice.”

That distinction is important.

Accessibility isn’t about giving someone an advantage. It’s about removing unnecessary barriers so that people can participate in everyday life on a more equal footing.

Technology helps — but it doesn’t replace braille

Technology has transformed the way many blind and partially sighted people access information. Smartphones, screen readers, recognition apps and other assistive technologies can make previously inaccessible information available.

But technology isn’t a solution to every accessibility problem.

Devices can be expensive, require charging and software, and may depend on internet access or other technology being available and working correctly.

Braille offers something different: direct, private and independent access to information.

It can be used without a smartphone or internet connection and is already an established way for blind and partially sighted people to access information in settings ranging from medicines and public signage to books and packaging.

The campaign isn’t presenting braille and technology as competing solutions. Instead, the argument is that people should have access to a range of tools and be able to choose what works best for them.

Why this survey matters

Lucy Mulvagh, Chief Executive Officer at Disability Equality Scotland, says the organisations behind the survey are launching it because there is still a significant gap in the evidence.

We know that many blind and partially sighted people experience inaccessible food labels. But understanding how those barriers affect people’s lives is equally important.

How do people identify products at home?

What happens when several foods look or feel similar?

How much additional time is spent organising food?

When is another person needed to check a label?

And what are the consequences in terms of safety, independence and confidence?

Answering these questions can help demonstrate the real-world impact of inaccessible food packaging.

Importantly, the survey is open to all blind and partially sighted people, whether or not they use braille. That means the research can capture a broad range of experiences and perspectives.

A UK-wide issue

Although the campaign has strong roots in Scotland, the issue extends well beyond Scotland’s borders.

Food products are bought and consumed every day across the UK, and accessibility challenges don’t stop at national or regional boundaries.

By collecting experiences from people across the UK, the organisations involved hope to demonstrate the scale and impact of the issue and provide policymakers with evidence to consider when developing future regulations.

The ultimate goal is simple: ensuring that blind and partially sighted people can access essential food information and make decisions about what they buy and eat with greater independence.

How you can take part

If you are blind or partially sighted, your experience could help shape the evidence behind future policy.

The survey is open until 31 October 2027 and is open to blind and partially sighted people whether or not they use braille.

Every response can help build a clearer picture of what accessible food labelling means in practice — and why it matters.

Take part in the survey: https://bit.ly/3T1ZQwHTo

For more information, visit Sight Scotland’s website.

Making food packaging accessible isn’t simply about changing labels. It’s about recognising that everyone deserves the ability to make informed choices about something as fundamental as the food they eat — independently, safely and with dignity.