The UK's Food Standards Agency said food manufacturers should implement a single approach to front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling to help consumers make healthier choices when buying food.
The Agency's board has suggested nutritional labels should use three elements: traffic light colours (red, amber and green), text (high, medium or low) and percentage guideline daily amounts (GDAs) to help establish clear health guidelines on food packaging.
The agency said it does not support FOP labels using only percentage GDAs, but that percentage GDAs should be combined with either traffic light colours or text, and should have all three elements, it said.
FSA said brands should not use colours other than traffic lights on labelling, which can confuse consumers.
The FSA recommends that information on portion size should be realistic and not mislead, and that labels should be used on a wider range of processed packaged foods.
Twitter