Consumers International Member pushes for colour-coded nutrition labels in France
CI Member UFC-Que Choisir has urged the French government to adopt colour-coded front-of-pack nutrition labelling following a study backing its effectiveness.
As part of their activities for this year’s World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), UFC-Que Choisir published a collaborative study showing how the colour coding system would work for 300 foods.
The coding system incorporates saturated fat, sugar, salt and calories – combining the results on a five-point scale with coloured dots (green, yellow, orange, pink and red). The red dot signifies a product that should be consumed rarely, whilst the green dot represents one that should be consumed daily or in greater quantity.
The results showed that the system was a useful tool in helping consumers to make healthier diet choices.
UFC-Que Choisir believe that this system should become the official front-of-pack labelling scheme for nutritional information under the proposed Public Health Act.
Alain BAZOT, President of UFC-Que Choisir said:
“High levels of fat, salt and sugar in many processed foods is contributing to a public health crisis in France and around the world. Interpretive, colour coded labelling is one tool that can help consumers trying to eat a healthy diet. Other actions are also needed. This World Consumer Rights Day, we are supporting the call for a Global Convention to Protect and Promote Healthy Diets.”
Unhealthy diets contribute to more than 11 million deaths a year. The rise in obesity and diet-related diseases like cancer and diabetes, has been attributed to an increased consumption of processed food, which often contain high levels of fat, sugar and salt.
CI and its Members are calling for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop a global treaty to support consumers’ rights to healthy food. A #FoodTreatyNow would provide clear nutrition labelling to help consumers choose a healthy diet.
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