After its launch at the end of last year in the UK, the voluntary traffic light labeling system seemed to be a success. The labels use an easy-to-read, color-coded system to indicate that a product has a high, low or medium level of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt. The premise behind the label is that it eliminates the time and hassle of label-reading, not to mention the stigma of "diet" foods, or being on a diet, which is a concern to some. Consumers learn that greens are good for everyday and the reds are fine once in a while.
Now, Australia is probably going to give the labels a go. They are hoping that, just like in Britain, consumers will opt for healthier foods over less healthy choices with more regularity. Surveys show that 9 out of 10 consumer find the system clear and easy to use, enabling 97% of consumers to make the better nutritional choice when comparing foods with the labels.
In the meantime, the British government is considering making the labeling system mandatory in the hopes of helping consumers further. Could the US be the next country to try the system?
DIY Foods: Making homemade sausage
Cakes so amazing they'd be hard to cut into
Fruit juice: An invitation to diabetes?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-16-2006 @ 4:31PM
Karen said...
That's a great idea. This would be a nice, simple idea for the US.
Reply
8-16-2006 @ 4:34PM
Bogey said...
It'll never make it here. It's not in the food manufacturer's best interest to have consumers know how bad many foods are. Just look at the lobbying effort being exerted to have a [weaker] national labeling standard that the state labeling requirements mandated in California.
Reply
8-16-2006 @ 4:56PM
Emily said...
This sounds like a really good idea. How many people really know exactly what all those big words on food labels mean? And who has the time to go looking them up in the dictionary? Maybe we need to stick these labels on our restaurants, too!
Reply
8-16-2006 @ 5:29PM
MJ said...
I dont know, dont think they want you to know how fattening the food is. That great taste is what keeps you hooked and coming back. I think if they did it to start with people would make alot more healthy choices. Some of thoses salads and other foods most people think are healthy isnt and you might as well of had the burger and fries and supersize it too! LOL
Reply
8-16-2006 @ 6:37PM
joe said...
that system would be so much better for us stupid americans, instead of some stupid pyramid of food that nobody remembers.
Reply
8-16-2006 @ 7:18PM
calamari said...
I like it! Ingredient lists are incomprehensible. While I think most people can grasp the difference between a bag of potato chips and an apple, it's not so obvious that a frozen apple pie contains a ton of "bad" stuff and very little in the way of apple nutrients.
Reply