Food Industry Hates Labels
Cry-babies.
That's the word that comes to mind when I read about a "Food Giant Revolt". It seems that many of the big food companies are not happy about a new labelling system being rolled out in the UK.
The "traffic light" system is a simple color-coded grading system for food products. The system was first mentioned on Diet Blog back in January 2005 where I wondered about "some food manufacturers taking offense at being given a red color code".
It seems I have my answer.
Kellogg’s, Danone, Kraft, Nestlé and Pepsico are all getting upset about the new food labels and have banded together to promote their own food labelling. They have coined a new acronym - GDA (Guideline Daily Allowance). Presumably their labels will show the level of sugar, fat and salt in a product as a percentage of "GDA".
They are running scared. The "traffic light" system seems to be having a strong impact on consumer habits:
The Sunday Times revealed in April that J Sainsbury — which has introduced the traffic-light scheme on some of its own-label products — had suffered a 40% fall in sales of chicken madras since the introduction of labelling. Other ready meals also had sharp declines.The food manufacturers feel they are being made a scapegoat for Britains obesity epidemic.
If their food is as great as they claim - why do they feel like a scapegoat?
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oh how i wish they would add it to fast food too! I think it should be simple and obvious just like the red light green light system above.
ReplyThat is kind of cool
ReplyWish they had that in the us
ReplyI don't like the new labeling system as it seems "nutrition info for dummies", especially if it omits the current label's information. I want the hard information about carbs and fiber grams not just the totals and an arbitary light system, especially one that has no relevence to my Diet.
ReplyAnd it just does sugar total yeah? I mean it doesn't differentiate between sugar from fruit/dried fruit and added sugar... which makes a difference actually.
ReplyA traffic system for labels – I love it. It is interactive and innovative, so it might be especially useful for kids. As for the food companies – it almost seems as if they believe in their own propaganda.
ReplyFlora: I don't believe the labels differentiate between different kinds of sugar. However the intention is to have the labels implemented on 'brand-name' foods - rather than whole foods. Otherwise a banana would probably hit the red-zone for sugar.
ReplyThey don't differentiate between different types saturated fatty acid chains either. While it could be true that some saturated fats are bad, stearic acid has been shown not to be. In beef, almost half of the saturated fat is stearic acid.
ReplyGrammar correction:
They don't differentiate between different types of saturated fatty acid chains either. While it could be true that some saturated fats are bad, stearic acid has been shown not to be. In beef, almost half of the saturated fat is stearic acid.
ReplyI'm wondering which other countries will follow suit with this system of labelling? I will contact ANZFA and ask that Australia implement the same system - it sounds effective and simple.
ReplyIs the traffic light system completely replacing the old nutritional info system or are there two labels on the products? The traffic light systems is a good idea, but it doesn't seem like enough information for the people who know how to and do read the nutritional labels.
ReplyI love this idea, I think it would get people more into reading the fine print rather than just seeing the claims on the front of the box, "healthy" "low-fat" that sort of thing. If you saw a red light you would naturally be curious as to why it was there, and discover just how bad for you those frozen diet dinners really are.
Food manufacturers have been getting away with borderline false advertising for too long. I hope the traffic-light system is enforced(not the GDA farce), the fact that it has impacted on sales proves that the public do want to eat better, they just need the guidance. Too bad if companies are getting red-lighted, they will have to either adapt and improve the quality of their products, or drop out of the industry altogether.
ReplyBy this system, an avocado would probably get a red light. In fact, there are probably a great number of foods that are actually good for you that would get red-lighted by this system. Would this turn people away from them? You have to be very careful, as a nutritionalist, about what you tell people. People tend to just buy it.
ReplyRyan, I think this system is for manufactured foods only, not whole foods. Whoole foods will always be encouraged.
ReplyIt depends. I've seen people who don't encourage raw whole milk, whole eggs, and meat :)
Reply