The food industry in australia is quick to highlight the rejection of the trafficlight system by the parliament of the european union in favour their. World cancer research fund uk wants to see all food retailers and. Unfortunately, the traffic light system is not a reliable indicator of food health. Many supermarket ownbrands have adopted the traffic light scheme voluntarily but household names such as. If manufacturers choose to produce their own labelling guidance, it will only serve to confuse shoppers, said chief executive douglas smallwood. First, any traffic light or similar nutrition labelling scheme needs to remain, both in theory and in practice, voluntary.
To our knowledge over 40 pieces of european legislation currently regulate food labelling. Feb 09, 2008 however, a traffic light system of red, amber, or green labelling will not be adopted. Ask the royal society for public health rsph, though, and theyll tell you all about the activity equivalence labelling system they proposed in 2016. Traffic light system healthy eating advisory service. The victorian governments healthy choices guidelines use a trafflic light system to categorise foods and drinks into three groups. The aim of fop nutritional labelling is to help customers make healthy dietary choices as an aid to reducing obesity.
They who refuse to use them claim they do so because they perceive a deep desire among consumers to study food labels instore in depth to get detailed % and weight data for the unhealthy elements in. This means that they will have to use the words high, medium and low along with the traffic light colours and guideline daily amount gda percentages. Traffic light food labelling the evidence the problem of obesity concerns about the implications of obesity are not new. Foods with green indicators are healthier and to be preferred over those with red ones. Food may be labelled with a traffic light label showing how much fat, saturated fats, sugar and salt are in that food by using the traffic light signals for high red, medium amber and low green percentages for each of these ingredients.
Impact of frontofpack trafficlight nutrition labelling on consumer food purchases in the uk. Uk urged to make traffic light food labelling mandatory. The european food sector is divided over the benefits of introducing a traffic light labelling scheme throughout europe. Red, amber and green traffic light shapes on the front of food packages show consumers, at a glance, whether a product is high, medium or low in fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt and possibly overall energy. The report, based on the results of facetoface interviews with shoppers, finds that while most people check frontofpack fop labels and recognise their importance, the traffic light system used by many retailers is ambiguous to consumers, who also suffer from information overload and a lack of contextual knowledge. They who refuse to use them claim they do so because they perceive a deep desire among consumers to study food labels instore in depth to get detailed % and weight data for the unhealthy elements in their basket. Large parts of the food industry have refused to back government plans to introduce standard food labelling next year, raising doubts about the voluntary system. Traffic light labelling helping people make healthy choices world cancer research fund uk position statement world cancer research fund uk wants to see all food retailers and manufacturers include harmonised standardised traffic.
The lga describes itself as a crossparty organisation that aims to influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils. The federal government has defied expert advice and rejected a traffic light food labelling system for packaged foods, saying there wasnt enough evidence to show it would give consumers the. This means that natural, healthy sources of fat such as cheese, nuts and avocados get. States should stand up to the food industry on traffic light. A consistent traffic light system for providing nutritional food labelling is finally rolling out, following several years of development.
People dont want to become obese and unhealthy, so if you provide them with the right information, they will make a different choice. Consumer group calls for mandatory traffic light labelling. Problem solving cycle, data collection, tally charts, mean, mode and median for ks3. One element of the proposal that has generated some debate is how this nutritional labelling will be presented. Last week, corporate europe observatory, an ngo, claimed that the food and drink industry had invested more than 1 billion in a lobby campaign to block an euwide traffic light labelling. Traffic light labels on food should be optional telegraph. The signpost should clearly indicate if information on the levels of nutrients present. Traffic light labelling helping people make healthy choices. This ama publication outlines the case for a traffic light system of labelling on food products to ensure that consumers can easily recognise and compare the healthiness of food products. Making healthy food choices easier for australians. Madam, the chief executive of the irish heart foundation michael oshea august 3rd challenges the food industry to focus its. Yet is overweight an issue that economists should address. The battle between the food industry and health groups over contents labelling intensifies today with an expert panel expected to signal whether australia should consider simplified traffic light.
Traffic light food labels gain momentum across europe. Traffic light labels use green, amber and red signals to show consumers whether a product is high, medium or low in fat, saturated fat, salt, sugar and, ideally, energy in calories. Frontofpackage food label symbols tested in evaluation of consumer understanding of different frontofpackage nutrition labels. The traffic light system of labelling provides easily interpreted information using color codes. Each project is handled with meticulous care to maximise accuracy whilst offering value for money and unparalleled customer support. Those most often affected include the elderly, poor, and individuals. Traffic light labelling world cancer research fund. Front of pack traffic light signpost labelling technical. Fsa backs traffic light food labelling scheme food. Pdf trafficlight nutrition labelling and junkfood tax.
The government wants the whole food industry to adopt a full hybrid system. The present study investigated stakeholders reactions to the introduction of a traffic light food classification system in primary and secondary school canteens. Eu food and drink industry association fooddrinkeurope communications director florence ranson stressed that mandatory traffic light labelling would not be allowed under the fic regulation, but was not happy with optional national schemes, which whatever they are are potential obstacles to the eus single market. Trafficlight food labels trevor c beard, caryl a nowson and malcolm d riley med j aust 2007. It is difficult for australian families to find the right information they need to make healthy choices about the food they consume. Traffic light labelling helping people make healthy choices world cancer research fund uk position statement world cancer research fund uk wants to see all food retailers and manufacturers include harmonised standardised traffic light labels on the front of food packaging. Using the government scheme, a combination of colour coding traffic lights and nutritional information is used to show, at a glance, whether a product is high red. Nestle spurns traffic light food labelling financial times. Front of pack traffic light signpost labelling technical guidance issue 2november 2007 page 3 of 16 in addition. A food standards agency board meeting agreed a voluntary traffic light scheme using red, amber and green to show high, medium and low levels of fat, sugar and salt.
Trafficlight food labels the medical journal of australia. We found that the range of labels used by retailers and manufacturers can be confusing to customers for a number of reasons. To make sure the information is actually read, it needs to be clear, specific and understandable. Jun 19, 2018 a consumer group is calling for mandatory traffic light food labelling postbrexit, after warning that inconsistent information on popular adult breakfast cereals could be misleading. Government to recommend traffic light labelling is used consistently on frontof pack across all. Sep 20, 2012 participants were assigned to 1 of 5 groups. Fop label use the front of pack nutrition information to help you eat a healthy diet.
Oct 26, 2015 first, any traffic light or similar nutrition labelling scheme needs to remain, both in theory and in practice, voluntary. A tax on unhealthy foods biscuits, cakes, pastries, pies, snack foods, confectionary and soft drinks that would raise consumerend prices of these products by 10% 45 nutrition traffic light. Trafficlight labelling has been proposed as a public health. European commission opts against traffic light system for. With widening waistbands and increasing pressure on the nhs, the government have responded by introducing a traffic light food rating system.
Those most often affected include the elderly, poor, and individuals with poor education. States should stand up to the food industry on traffic. The result should be simple, transparent labelling that customers can trust and that can actually help customers make buying decisions. It is also designed to update rules on food labelling first introduced 30 years ago. Oct 23, 2017 the european food sector is divided over the benefits of introducing a traffic light labelling scheme throughout europe. New food labelling system to come into force to tackle obesity.
Mar 09, 2006 a food standards agency board meeting agreed a voluntary traffic light scheme using red, amber and green to show high, medium and low levels of fat, sugar and salt. Mar 21, 2016 eu food and drink industry association fooddrinkeurope communications director florence ranson stressed that mandatory traffic light labelling would not be allowed under the fic regulation, but was not happy with optional national schemes, which whatever they are are potential obstacles to the eus single market. Uk, sales of breakfast cereals with mainly green or amber lights grew twice as fast as breakfast. Facts up front versus traffic light food labels rudd center. Industry divided over traffic light labelling in europe. Mar 29, 2011 the food industry in australia is quick to highlight the rejection of the traffic light system by the parliament of the european union in favour their preferred dig approach to labelling. Food choices to control obesity involve a radical change in shopping behaviour, and traffic light labels are expressly designed to promote.
Some supermarkets have supported traffic light labels up to a point. Traffic light labels on food should be optional a decadelong battle to introduce traffic light warnings on food has been lost after the. Trafficlight labels could reduce population intakes of calories, total. The proposal, which must now be approved by european union governments and the european parliament, is part of the commissions antiobesity strategy. Is the traffic light food labelling system working. A uk scheme that labels prepacked food in red, amber or green according to their level of healthiness was rejected by mediterranean countries at eu level but is. Traffic light food labelling australian medical association.
A consumer group is calling for mandatory traffic light food labelling postbrexit, after warning that inconsistent information on popular adult breakfast cereals could be. Ab food nutrition has many years of experience in food labelling and carrying out nutrition calculations for both mandatory back of pack nutrition labelling and voluntary front of pack multiple traffic light systems. Oct 24, 2012 new food labelling system to come into force to tackle obesity. Uk traffic light labelling should be mandatory for all food manufacturers, the local government association lga has urged the british government.
Green best choices foods and drinks in the green category are the healthiest choices. Oct 24, 2012 large parts of the food industry have refused to back government plans to introduce standard food labelling next year, raising doubts about the voluntary system. Following the introduction of traffic light food labelling in the. Last june in the european parliament a majority voted against the traffic light scheme. Last week, corporate europe observatory, an ngo, claimed that the food and drink industry had invested more than 1 billion in a lobby campaign to block an euwide traffic light labelling scheme.
Food allergens 14 in total plus their derivatives 11. Guide to creating a front of pack fop nutrition label. Recent estimates suggest that 2 billion people worldwide are either overweight or obese swinburn et al, 2011. Hybrid system for food labelling given green light. Jun 16, 2010 some supermarkets have supported traffic light labels up to a point. Fsa backs traffic light food labelling scheme food the. Traffic light food labelling in schools and beyond. Shoppers confused by traffic light food labels, says study posted on 03 jul 2015. Information on guideline daily amounts gdas and calories can be provided3. Diabetes uk also gave their backing to the traffic light system, saying it was the quickest and easiest way for consumers to know what their food contained.
The traffic light labelling system will tell you whether a food has high, medium or low amounts of fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt. Commission presented a proposal for the consolidation and harmonisation of food labelling regulations. Front of pack traffic light signpost labelling technical guidance issue 2november 2007 page 2 of 16 front of pack traffic light signpost labelling technical guidance this document replaces issue 1 of the food standards agencys front of pack nutritional signpost labelling technical guidance. The idea of traffic labelling is to help people make quick assessments of whether foods are good choices or not. Shoppers confused by traffic light food labels, says study. Food labelling is an excellent way to make people eat better. Much more prepackaged food is to be labelled using a traffic light system, after companies agree to a. One system that has been implemented in a bid to help shoppers to make betterinformed choices about the foods they buy has been the traffic light labelling system, which shows consumers at a glance if a food has a high, medium or low content of fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt. New trafficlight food labels get goahead health news. Traffic light labelling is the best way to reach consumers more than half of german adults are overweight.
Food labels should also show an ingredients list with the most common allergens clearly emphasised so they stand out from the other ingredients. Pdf traffic light food labelling in schools and beyond. Critically, traffic light labels performed significantly better than labels without colours across all socio economic groups. However, a traffic light system of red, amber, or green labelling will not be adopted. Traffic light nutritional labelling cancer research uk. Traffic light food labelling system finally rolls out. Australia has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world, and it continues to grow. The european dairy association has attacked proposals backed by six multinationals, including nestle and coca cola, to introduce a traffic light labelling scheme, similar to that in operation in the uk, throughout europe. Food industry digs in heels over traffic light labels. It will also tell you the number of calories and kilojoules in that particular product.
A food fight two methods, the colour coded traffic light and guideline daily amount gda schemes have been discussed. For example, the system gives any food high in fat a red light. Must refer to 100g or 100ml amounts allows consumer to compare products in different package sizes. Food producers must emphasise allergens within the ingredients listed on the label of prepacked foods. A uk scheme that labels prepacked food in red, amber or green according to their level of healthiness was rejected by mediterranean countries at eu level but is slowly gaining momentum across europe. Healthful food decision making in response to traffic. Traffic light foodlabelling scheme the irish times. Whenever possible, foods assigned a red traffic light for one or more of the profiled. Green light for traffic light food labelling which. Seven eu states oppose british traffic light labelling. Diabetes and food labelling diabetic food, traffic light. Evaluation of consumer understanding of different frontof. The new labels will use the red, amber and green symbols of the traffic light to visually represent the amount of fat, saturated fat, salt, sugars and calories present across prepackaged food per 100g.
1594 1124 49 314 640 1481 636 1170 1005 82 476 642 514 277 956 384 1221 812 1565 528 1591 723 1326 101 352 240 622 680 998 480 985 914 1442 597 24 1363 731 760 282 226 322 1222