Childers calls on Irish MEPs to support 'traffic light' food labelling

Posted by Bronwen Maher on June 14, 2010 at 09:00 AM

Nessa Childers MEP wants the European Parliament to adopt a new law that would force food manufacturers to carry a 'traffic light' colour-coding on the levels of calories, sugar and fats contained in their products.

The Labour MEP says the EU's proposed new food labelling initiative, which will affect 500 million Europeans and will be voted on this week in Strasbourg should not stop there. Ms Childers said: "The 'traffic light' system is a simple, universally understood and transparent system that, if adopted, will go a long way towards helping to tackle Europe's ticking obesity, diabetes, stroke and heart disease time-bomb.

"However, I also believe that alcohol producers should be compelled to label their products for calories and sugar too. A recent Food Safety Authority of Ireland survey published last December found that 80% of those questioned favoured health advice on alcohol labels. This same piece of research identified that only 25% of people ever read the nutritional advice on food labels when out shopping. The current GDA system adopted by mass food producers is complex, arguably misleading and generally misunderstood.

"This is why a simple new red, amber and green system is required to alert consumers to the nutritional value of certain products. The 'traffic light' approach also has the benefit of being understood even at a distance and those with literacy problems can also easily understand the principle.

"I want all ready-to-eat meals, pre-packed snacks, sandwiches and soft drinks labelled with calories, sugar, salt, fat and saturated fat on the front of pack, and on the back of pack - protein, carbohydrates, fibre and transfats.

"We must confront the stark facts that 60% of all adults in the EU - and 20% of school-age children - are obese or overweight and millions of EU citizens suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes.”
 
Nessa Childers continued, "These massive public health problems are only getting bigger and they are costing billions of euro per annum to our health services. The EU and individual Members States must be armed with as many tools as possible to fight this growing public health catastrophe. The adoption of a 'traffic light' food labelling is one such positive measure which has the potential to transform people's eating habits and save lives as a result.

"I must also say that I have been shocked at the level of industry lobbying on this issue, with the ratio of industry lobbying compared to consumer or health group lobbying standing at around ten to one in my estimation. I urge my fellow Irish MEPs to resist this massive industry pressure and take a pro-health stance in this weeks vote in Strasbourg."

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