EU switches off ‘traffic light’ food labels

A decision by the European Parliament to adopt front-of-pack food labelling - very similar to the system used by Australia’s food industry - has been commended by the Australian Food and Grocery Council.

Members of the European Parliament also rejected 'traffic light' food labels on 16 June, which AFGC said was a step in the right direction to help consumers make informed nutritional choices.

AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said the EU’s decision was an important outcome, especially in light of the current Review of Food Labelling Policy and Law in Australia.

“We hope that the Blewett Review will take note of the EU’s ruling on front-of-pack labelling, which empowers consumers to make more informed food choices and improve their diets,” Carnell said.

Under the EU decision, companies will now use guideline daily amounts to label the energy, sugar, salt and fat content on the front of food packages, as well as protein, unsaturated fats and fibre.

Carnell said this is a very similar model to Australia’s daily intake guide front-of-pack labelling system which lists the amount of energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt in a recommended serve of the food and what this represents as a proportion of average daily intake.