Report Highlights:
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) (FDA equivalent) is working to develop front of package labeling to help consumers make healthier choices. A group of five global manufacturers have pre-empted the work of the FSA by announcing their approach to the issue, ahead of the expected FSA recommendation in March 2006. Although the labeling system will be voluntary, it is expected to have widespread adoption. Costs of additional nutritional analyses and packaging changes will be borne by suppliers, making imported products more expensive.
Background
Last year, the UK government published a White Paper amid growing fears about the crises of obesity and diet-related illnesses.This prompted ongoing debate regarding the most effective method of assisting UK consumers in making informed choices in their diets.The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) (FDA equivalent) proposes a two-method approach to helping consumers make healthier choices.The first part is that food products should display a Multiple Traffic Light indicator (where foods are red/amber/green for elements such as fat, sugar and salt) on the front of package.The second part suggests that a color-coded Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) indicator is displayed on the back of package.
Latest development
There was a 12-week comment period for the public and trade that ended on Wednesday February 8.On February 9, five of the UK’s largest food manufacturers announced that they had collaborated on an agreement to provide GDA indicators on the front of package.The companies are global operators, and include: Danone, Kellogg’s, Kraft, Nestle and PepsiCo.The brands affected include Walkers potato chips, Dairylea cheese slices, Shredded Wheat breakfast cereal and Kit Kat candy bars.Please see page 3 for an illustration showing the front of package information provided on Kraft Dairylea slices.