Traffic Light Labels Given Thumbs Down By EU

MEDIA RELEASE

18 June 2010

Traffic Light Labels Given Thumbs Down By European Union

The New Zealand Food and Grocery Council (FGC) welcomes the landmark decision by the European Parliament to reject “traffic light” food labels and adopt a front-of-pack food labelling system similar to that used by the New Zealand and Australian food industries, says Chief Executive, Katherine Rich.

“This common sense decision is of particular relevance to New Zealand, given the ongoing debate about labelling systems and the current Australia/New Zealand Review of Food Labelling Policy and Law being lead by Dr Neal Blewett.”

“We hope that such a strong message from the European Parliament on this issue will be taken into account within the current review.”

“The fact that the traffic light scheme was voted down by a whopping 559 votes to 54 recognises how flawed and discredited the traffic light approach to food labelling is.”

Mrs Rich says that under the European decision, companies will now use Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA) to label the energy, sugar, salt and fat content on the front of food packages, as well as protein, unsaturated fats and fibre.

This model is similar to the % Daily Intake method of labelling used by many members of the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council. The labelling system 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 an average daily intake.

The Food and Grocery Council has consistently opposed “traffic light” labelling of food, says Mrs Rich.

“It’s too simplistic and could have negative unintended consequences. The problem is that for many New Zealanders a red light means stop. Products like cheese, milk, honey and breakfast spreads like Marmite are all part of a healthy, balanced diet, but would attract a "red light" and be considered “bad” foods best avoided all together. This will not lead to good health outcomes”.

“Traffic light” labelling is not the silver bullet solution to New Zealand’s obesity problem that supporters would have consumers believe. There are no good or bad foods, just good or bad diets.” Mrs Rich said.

ENDS

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