• Home
  • eAlerts
  • Voluntary Front of Pack Food Labelling – UK Consultation Launched

Voluntary Front of Pack Food Labelling – UK Consultation Launched

United Kingdom
17/05/2012
Download PDF

The new EU Food Information Regulation 1169/2011 allows for the continuation of voluntary front of pack (“FoP”) labelling. The UK’s Department of Health (“DoH”) acknowledges that this information is currently provided by companies on a voluntary basis but states that differences in nutrients, the basis for colour coding and presentation can undermine consistency and recognition for consumers.

The latest DoH consultation aims to achieve a high level of agreement across industry and has the twin objectives of:

  • maintaining and extending the use of FOP labelling across the widest possible range of food and drink products;
  • achieving the greatest possible consistency in the content and presentation of FOP nutrition labelling, in a form which is clear and most useful to consumers.

A clear consistent approach to voluntary FoP labelling and recognised health logos etc would clearly be of benefit to both consumers and industry alike. However, the main difference of opinion remains between producers who either prefer information to be presented as Guideline Daily Amounts (%GDA) or using ‘traffic light’ (i.e. colour) coding of different levels of fat, salt and sugar. It is uncertain how this fundamental difference might be addressed within the UK consultation.

The consultation will run until 6 August 2012 and may be accessed here.

Search Filters

Advanced Search

Key contact

Related content