A new universal front-of-pack labeling scheme, which offers customers more detailed information on the nutritional content of food products, was launched by ministers today.
The initiative has been launched collaboratively across all four UK governments, with all the major supermarkets signed up.
Packaging is set to change on all own-label lines within UK supermarkets, with traffic light colour coding and nutirional information - incuding fat, sugar and calorie details per 100g portion - more clearly advertised on products. The new labels will see reference intakes replacing GDAs (Guideline Daily Amounts).
The Department of Health says that the businesses signed up to the new labelling format account for more than 60 per cent of all the food that is sold in the UK. Food companies including Mars UK, Nestle UK, Mash Direct, Premier Foods and McCain Foods are all signed up.
However, Kellogg's and Cadbury-owner Mondelez International were notable absentees from the list of 26 brands signed up to the scheme, which is the basis for a new Responsibility Deal pledge.
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said the evolution of labelling will help the government to battle the UK's obesity problem. A recent national survey, which was led by research teams from Imperial College London, found that 20 per cent of 10-15 year olds are now obese while obesity-related illnesses currently cost the NHS more than £5 billion every year.
'A consistent scheme across all the major supermarkets means wherever we shop we will see the same front-of-pack labelling and this will help improve understanding of the label and make healthier choices easier,' explained Opie.
Janet Taylor, diet and health manager for The Co-operative Food, said it is now 'essential' that the food industry, including manufacturers, supports the new approach.
Meanwhile, public health minister Anna Soubry confirmed she will look to increase the number of businesses signed up to the new labelling initiative and believes the new labels will encourage the public to eat more healthily.
She said: 'We all have a responsibility to tackle the challenge of obesity, including the food industry. By having all major retailers and manufacturers signed up to the consistent label, we will all be able to see at a glance what is in our food.
'Research shows that, of all the current schemes, people like this label the most and they can use the information to make healthier choices.'
