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Europe bids to end food-labelling confusion
The health information carried on food product labels will be governed by a Europe-wide standard, under new rules being considered by the European Commission (EC).
The EC hopes that the plan will help consumers maintain a healthy diet, by simplifying and clarifying nutritional information provided on food and drink packaging.
There are currently two schemes in operation in the UK. The Food Standard Agency (FSA)'s traffic light system, employed by retailers including Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Co-op, Marks & Spencer and Asda, uses colour-coded labels to show levels of sugar, fat and salt.
The alternative guideline daily amounts (GDAs) system used by retailers including Tesco, Somerfield and Morrison sets out nutritional values against recommended guideline daily amounts.
The EC proposes a similar GDA system, whereby energy, carbohydrates, fat and saturated fat would be displayed in relation to a recommended daily allowance. However, the commission added that member countries could use national schemes such as the traffic light system, provided they did not 'undermine' the EU rules.
'An independent evaluation of the three labelling schemes in use in the UK is now underway,' an FSA spokesperson told BBC News.
'The results of this study will tell us what is working best for consumers and will inform future negotiations on this EU proposal.'
Category: Healthy Lifestyle
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