Burnham considers ban on ketchup sachets from restaurants and cafes

Andy Burnham is considering a ban on single-serving condiment sachets in cafes and restaurants, as part of a planned consultation on aligning UK rules with the European Union. The proposal is intended to reduce single-use plastic waste; campaigners say vast numbers of packets are discarded, including unopened ones.

The EU ban on sachets of ketchup, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, oil and vinegar will apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, but not elsewhere in the UK unless rules are aligned. A government minister said a consultation is being planned, while campaigners estimate 855 billion condiment sachets are used globally each year. The article also reports that a separate food and drink standards deal could ease some post-Brexit checks and allow certain UK exports to resume.