UK voluntary Front of Pack nutrition labelling scheme

UK voluntary Front of Pack nutrition labelling scheme Trudy Netherwood

Example Labels 2

Background - Our scheme is based on more than 12 years of research, extensive modelling, and stakeholder engagement. • 2001 – Qualitative Research on Signposting http: //www. food. gov. uk/multimedia/pdfs/nutritional-labelling-report. pdf • 2004 – Testing 5 labelling concepts http: //www. food. gov. uk/multimedia/pdfs/alternlab. pdf • 2005 – Further creative development of GDA approaches • 2005 Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of signposting labelling concepts http: //www. food. gov. uk/multimedia/pdfs/signpostquanresearch. pdf http: //www. food. gov. uk/multimedia/pdfs/signpostqualresearch. pdf • May 2009 Qualitative and quantitative research http: //www. food. gov. uk/multimedia/pdfs/pmpreport. pdf • January 2010 citizens forums http: //www. food. gov. uk/multimedia/pdfs/citforumfop. pdf • Reports of stakeholder discussions and summary of modelling work to support UK recommendation. November 2012 – update on nutrition labelling consultation January 2013 - Update from round table meeting on nutrition labelling http: //www. dh. gov. uk/health/category/policy-areas/public-health/nutrition-nutrition/ • The guidance for the voluntary scheme was launched in June 2013 https: //www. gov. uk/government/publications/front-of-pack-nutrition-labelling-guidance 3

Before the harmonised scheme introduction in 2013 - a range of schemes were used • Consumers were confused because there were many different front of pack labels on our market – colour only, colour and %RI and RI only. This meant products in the same store could not easily be compared. 4

Consumers’ use of colour • Consumers preferred a hybrid scheme of nutritional information (non-directive) with intuitive colour coding (directive). • Attitudes (specific dietary needs) play a part in consumers balancing high and low levels of different nutrients on single foods • Reds provoked further investigation of more detailed nutrition information. • Consumers balance sign posting with more general knowledge and are willing to accept more reds in some product categories e. g. ice-cream, fat spreads, snacks, confectionery, desserts, dairy food. 5 “If it was all green, you wouldn’t bother, you’d pick it up and throw it in your basket, but if it had red and yellow, you’d maybe look at the back and say, oh that’s all right. ” [Female, Pre. Family, BC 1]

UK scheme format 6

Thresholds for UK 2013 Voluntary Front of Pack Scheme Food Reference Intakes (Annex XIII EU Reg 1169/2011) Fat Saturates (Total) Sugar Salt 70 g 20 g 90 g 6 g Portion >100 g High Red (30% of each nutrient RI) Low Green* Medium Amber High Red (25% of each nutrient RI) ≤ 3. 0 g/100 >3. 0 g to ≤ 17. 5 g/100 g >17. 5 g/100 g >21 g per portion ≤ 1. 5 g/100 g >1. 5 g to ≤ 5. 0 g/100 g >6 g per portion ≤ 5. 0 g/100 g > 5. 0 g to ≤ 22. 5 g/100 g >27 g per portion ≤ 0. 3 g/100 g >0. 3 g to ≤ 1. 5 g/100 g >1. 8 g per portion Table 1: Food (Portion size criteria applies to portions/serving sizes greater than 100 g) * The green (low) /amber (medium) thresholds are determined by the EU Reg 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims as follow: • Low Fat: No more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. • Low in Saturated Fat: No more than 1. 5 g per 100 g and must not provide more than 10% of energy. • Low in Sugar: No more than 5 g of sugars per 100 g. • Low in Salt: No more than 0. 3 g of salt per 100 g. 7

Thresholds for UK 2013 Voluntary Front of Pack Scheme Drink Reference Intakes Fat Saturates (Total) Sugar Salt (Annex XIII EU Reg 1169/2011) 70 g 20 g 90 g 6 g Medium Amber High Red (12. 5% of each nutrient RI) Portion >150 ml High Red (15% of each nutrient RI) ≤ 1. 5 g/100 ml >1. 5 g to ≤ 8. 75 g/100 ml >10. 5 g per portion ≤ 0. 75 g/100 ml >0. 75 g to ≤ 2. 5 g/100 ml >3 g per portion ≤ 2. 5 g/100 ml > 2. 5 g to ≤ 11. 25 g/100 ml >13. 5 g per portion ≤ 0. 3 g/100 ml >0. 3 to ≤ 0. 75 g/100 ml >0. 9 g per portion Low Green* Table 2: Drink (Portion cap applies to any drink sold in portions of 150 ml or over) * The green (low) /amber (medium) thresholds are determined by the EU Reg 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims as follow: • Low Fat: No more than 1. 5 g of fat per 100 ml for liquids. • Low in Saturated Fat: No more than 0, 75 g/100 ml for liquids and must not provide more than 10% of energy. • Low in Sugar: No more than 2. 5 g of sugars per 100 ml for liquids. • Low in Salt: No more than 0. 3 g of salt per 100 ml. 8

Use of the scheme by businesses • Businesses (retailers and manufacturers) that have voluntarily decided to adopt the scheme are responsible for approximately two-thirds of the pre-packed food and drink market in the UK. • This includes major supermarkets and manufacturers, including some multinational companies. • Individual businesses and trade associations for the retail and manufacturing industry have provided information for consumers and health care professionals in the form of guidance, leaflets and information on websites. • The scheme has encouraged the reformulation of products by businesses and for the development of new product lines. 9

Consumer use and information PHE life course tracker wave 4 (Oct 2013 - 4 months after the introduction of the harmonised scheme) • 60% of consumers use the scheme with 18% always using the colour coded labels, 17% often and 25% sometimes. • 34% think this information is very easy to understand a further 26% easy. http: //www. nhs. uk/Change 4 Life/Pages/food-labels. aspx 10

Support from health organisations • The Obesity Health Alliance, formed in the UK last year, supports the continuation and extension in the UK of the hybrid colour coded front of pack labelling scheme. • The alliance includes a broad range of stakeholder groups, including: – British Heart Foundation – British Medical Association – Royal College of Physicians – National Obesity Forum – Diabetes UK – Royal College of Nursing – Faculty of Public Health – Health Equalities Group – Royal College of Anaesthetists – British Society of Gastroenterology and many more… 11

Contact details Dr Trudy Netherwood Food Policy Manager Obesity & Food Policy Branch, Health & Wellbeing Division, Public and International Health Directorate, Department of Health, Wellington House, 133 -155 Waterloo Road, London SE 1 8 UG, UK. E: trudy. netherwood@dh. gsi. gov. uk T: +44 (0)20 7972 3255 12