16/06/2010

Vote goes against traffic light colours on food labels

MEPs have disappointingly voted against introducing a food labelling scheme incorporating traffic light colours.

We have been campaigning for a single, front-of-pack labelling scheme which incorporates traffic light colours to show us all how much fat, salt or sugar the food we are buying contains.

As things stand, food labels across the EU use a confusing multitude of styles, figures and markers to show nutritional content.

Independent research has shown that clear and consistent labels, including the use of traffic light colours, best give us the information we need as consumers and would help us all make healthier choices at a glance.

However, against all the evidence and overwhelming support, MEPs have disappointingly voted against the introduction of traffic light colours on front-of-pack food labels across the European Union.

MEPs have voted for a scheme that only focuses on Guideline Daily Amounts instead.

Our Chief Executive, Peter Hollins, said: “The European Parliament should be ashamed of putting the interests of the food lobby ahead of the health of the people they represent.

“Thousands of people across the UK have taken action to ask their MEPs to back traffic lights because they want help to make healthy choices. But the food industry has spent millions of pounds lobbying to block this improvement in food labelling. David has been no match for the industry’s Goliath.

“The European Council and Commission still have the opportunity to give this critical scheme the green light and we will continue to fight for the health of ordinary people above the profits of the food industry.”