Jan. 7 – UK: major food groups create labelling row

More updates on possible changes to UK food labelling laws:

A new campaign is being launched today by 21 major food companies and retailers to label food more clearly with its nutritional content in a bid to combat the UK’s rise in obesity. But the guideline daily amount (GDA) system chosen by the groups including Nestle and Kellogg’s is different from the traffic light system endorsed by the Food Standards Agency – sparking controversy among health campaigners.

More than 10,000 lines from the groups will be labelled with GDA information, amounting to nearly 40 per cent of all UK retail food and drink packs. The groups involved chose to use the GDA system as they believe it is easy to use and people can use it to assess actual portions of food, rather than 100g blocks.

Under the traffic light system, supported by the Co-Op, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Asda, per 100g amounts are used to determine the colour code. Food industry GDA campaign director Jane Holdsworth said: “This isn’t just about a label, it’s about a lifestyle. We have made it simple to compare what’s inside thousands of everyday foods so you can choose what best suits your diet.”

See full article: Fresh Plaza