Food manufacturers rejecting traffic light labeling

by Nicole Weston, Posted Sep 3rd 2006 @ 6:03PM

The traffic light labeling system, which clearly indicates whether foods have high, low or medium levels of fats, sugar and salt, has enjoyed good success with consumers in England and is even being adopted in other parts of the world. Some supermarkets have expressed displeasure over the system, but now five major food manufacturers are launching their own campaign to try to bring it down.

Kellogg's, Danone, Kraft, Nestlé and Pepsico say that they are being made scapegoats for the UK's obesity problems. The traffic light system essentially tells consumers that "This food is bad!" according to the companies. Working together, they have come up with a new labeling system that will get information about the nutritional value of a product across to consumers without turning them off the food entirely. The system will have a "guideline daily allowance" (GDA) of sugar, fat and salt is contained in a product, meaning that there will be a percentage on the label and no foods will seem forbidden to buyers.

Critics of the GDA plan say that percentages are too confusing for the average consumer and that they need the black and white (or red and green) of the traffic system to help them make food choices. A trial run should help determine wither the GDA will catch on.

Source

Filed Under: Business, Trends, Stores & Shopping, Super Size Me
Tags: british isles, dannone, food, foods, label, labeling, neste, nutrition, stores-and-shopping, super size me, supermarket, traffic light

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-03-2006 @8:11PM Dr. Electro said... I for one read every label on every edible product I buy. I decide for myself which foods I am willing to risk putting in my body. If today's food labeling had been available in my youth I might not have contracted type 2 diabetes.

Traffic light labeling is too simplistic for my purposes. I actually have to read the list of ingredients to avoid purchasing ingredients that are harmful to me or to my wife.
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9-03-2006 @9:13PM Camille Bauman said... Well, of course the food manufacturers are upset....their profits will be affected when the public starts to realize how much hidden fat, sugar and salt is in their cleverly disguised products. Not everyone is reading the "fine print", even though they should.
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