Childers welcomes 'Traffic Light' food labelling survey results

Posted by Bronwen Maher on November 16, 2010 at 02:04 PM

Minister Harney must now stand up for voluntary traffic lights labelling scheme at European level

Nessa Childers MEP today welcomed new research that Irish shoppers prefer the so-called traffic light food labelling scheme, which has proved so controversial as part of the recent Food Labelling regulation in the European Parliament. She now wants the European health ministers to allow Irish food manufacturers to label food with '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 next month by EU health ministers following the vote in the parliament some months ago, could be a massive step forward for healthier eating in Ireland.

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. This 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 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.

"These massive public health problems are only getting bigger and they are costing billions of euros per annum to our health services. The EU and individual Member States must be armed with as many tools as possible in order to fight this growing public health catastrophe. The adoption of 'traffic light' food labelling is one such positive measure which has the potential to transform people's eating habits and save millions of lives as a result.

"Mandatory traffic-light labelling was voted down by the conservatives in the parliament vote earlier this year, however Minister Harney and her health minister colleagues across Europe have the chance now to allow the scheme to be adopted voluntarily by Member States. This research proves Irish shoppers prefer this labelling scheme and I call on Minister Harney to take a stand on this issue at European level."

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