The Fresh Produce Consortium and the department of health have acted quickly to issue guidance on making health claims on fresh produce packaging.

The advice comes as the UK's two leading supermarkets - Tesco and Asda - face prosecution by local government trading standards services in Shropshire and Swindon, as reported on freshinfo last week.

Consortium officials met with officials from the department last week as well as representatives from the two multiples which are members of the FPC.

"The DoH 5-a-day brand is part of a general public health message that is supported by evidence," said FPC chief executive Nigel Jenney. "The preferred official wording of the general message is that 'eating five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and some cancers'. The logo does not make claims about a specific product, other than that it provides one of your 5-a-day portions and is appropriate for use on both labels and promotional materials."

The guidance has now been issued to all FPC members. "Further guidance may be available in the near future," said Jenney. "Although all food labelling rules on health claims are under review within the EU."

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