Food manufacturers rejecting traffic light labeling

by Nicole Weston (Subscribe to Nicole Weston's posts)
Posted Sep 3rd 2006 6:03PM
Filed under: British Isles, Business, Trends, Stores & Shopping, Super Size Me

Print Email More

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.

Tags: dannone, food, foods, label, labeling, neste, nutrition, supermarket, traffic light

Comments [2]

Read

Permalink

Print Email Twitter Facebook Digg AIM Share

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.

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.

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Slashfood Editor	46	0
2	Alexa Weibel	34	2
3	Sarah LeTrent	33	0
4	Hanna Raskin	23	0
5	Monika Bartyzel	19	0
6	Sara Bonisteel	15	0
7	Emily Farris	11	0
8	Jennifer Lawinski	11	0
9	Jennifer Iserloh	9	0
10	Michael Thomas Hastings	8	0
11	Lisa Schweitzer	8	0
12	Kat Kinsman	8	2
13	Mike Pomranz	5	0
14	Joshua M. Bernstein	5	2
15	LeNell Smothers	4	0
16	Erin Meister	4	0
17	Max Shrem	4	0
18	Jose Ralat Maldonado	4	1
19	John Devore	3	0
20	David Koeppel	2	0

Blogger

Posts

Cmts

Michael Thomas Hastings

Reviews: What's New This Week Jim Carrey's "A Christmas Carol" Creepy in a Good Way Twitter Follow Friday on ParentDish!	Jon Gosselin Hits the Yoga Mat World Run Day 2009 is This Sunday! Mariah Carey Flaunts A Fuller Figure
Getting Purse-onal: Handbag Style - New York City vs. Los Angeles DIY Design: Go With the Grain Cameron Diaz Pulls a Janice Dickinson	Can 2022 be the 'Year of the Tiger' if the Tigers are all Gone? Eco-Beat, 11/5 Does Humane Veal Exist?
Ellen Degeneres Dances Her Way to Real Estate Riches Get the Look for Less: House Beautiful Foyer Paint Trends: Predicting Next Year's Hottest Colors	Poll: Who Is Your Favorite College Mascot? Freaky Ferrets; Bionic Bowser The Penguin and the Zoo-Keeper: A Love Story