After the United Kingdom (UK) introduced the Traffic Light Scheme, convinced of its benefits in guiding consumers’ food choices based on available evidence, now Germany finds supporting evidence for its advantages.
A poll, conducted on behalf of the German Ministry of Consumer Protection, has showed that more that half of the respondents would be influenced, when buying food, by the use of a colour system. The poll was conducted in connection with the presentation of the new guidelines for displaying more extensive nutritional information on food products: the "1 plus 4" model.
The result was emphasized by Minister Horst Seehofer as an explicit wish of the majority which can not be denied. Furthermore he said that he will campaign for a standardized European model to guide consumers.
The result of the poll supports the already existing evidence that ’consumers demand more and better information on labels. Consumers are interested in clear, simple, comprehensive, standardized and authoritative information’.
EPHA considers the Traffic Light Scheme as the most visible system that enables consumers to make the most healthy choice concerning their diet. Regarding the evidence available, EPHA urges the Commission to make the Traffic Light Scheme mandatory on the front of packaging all over the EU.
For more information
Traffic Light Labelling, Food Standards Agency (FSA)
EPHA related articles
How to tackle obesity by local actions?
Transatlantic approaches to tackle obesity and diet-related disease
*Update* EPHA position paper on Food Labelling, June 2008.
EFSA consults on Food and Health claims
