Influences on food labelling

• Legislation

• The Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991

• Food Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland)1996 plus amendments

• Other Specific legislation covering some foods such as Jam, honey, water, etc., etc……

Influences on food labelling• Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991• Article 14 states:- • “Any person who gives with any food sold by him, or

displays with any food offered or exposed by him for sale or in his possession for the purpose of sale, a label, whether or not attached to or printed on the wrapper or container, which:

(a) falsely describes the food; or(b) is likely to mislead as to the nature or

substance or quality of the food, shall be guilty of an offence.”

• [Even if a label meets all the necessary requirements of the Food Labelling Regulations, the label must ultimately meet the requirements of Article 14 of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.]

The Food Labelling Regulations

General labelling requirement

– The name of the food

– A list of ingredients

– Quid declarations of characterising ingredients

– The appropriate minimum durability

– (Special storage instructions)

– Name and address of manufacturer or packer,

or seller within the EC

– (Particulars of place of origin or provenance)

– (Instructions for use)

The Food Labelling Regulations

Further requirements

– Indication of irradiated ingredients

– Indication of allergenic ingredients

– Additional requirements for:

• Claims

• Nutrition labelling

• Misleading descriptions, etc

FOOD LABELLING CHECKLISTREQUIREMENT YES (GIVE DETAILS) EXEMPT

Name of the Food

List of Ingredients

QUID Declaration

Minimum Durability

Storage Instructions

Usage of Instructions

Name & Address of Manufacturer/Purchaser/Seller

Indication of Origin

Claims

Nutrition Information

Lot Marking

Presentation

Intelligibility

Health Marking/Approved Premises

Other Declaration RequirementsGMOIrradiationSweetenersAllergenic Ingredients

Signposting

Which food do you think is higher in saturated fat?

0.2g 2.0g

13.0g 2.0g

6.0g

3.5g

3.1g

0.8g

2.2g

0.7g

Sat fat is based on per 100g of product

Why the Need for Front of Pack Signpost Labelling?

• Rising levels of obesity in the UK raise serious health concerns, particularly in relation to cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer and type II diabetes

• In addition National Diet and Nutrition Data found that consumers eat too much:– saturated fat– sugar– salt

Source: National Diet and Nutrition Surveys, FSA. 2001

Why the Need for Front of Pack Signpost Labelling?

• Approximately 80% of UK companies already provide some back of pack nutrition labelling on a voluntary basis

• Yet UK consumers still find current nutritional labelling difficult to use and wanted an easier "at a glance" system of labelling

Source: Nutrition Labelling research report, FSA, Nov 2001.

Agency Signposting Recommendations

On 9 March 2006 the Agency Board recommended that voluntary signpost labelling is based on four core principles:

1. Provide separate information on fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt. Information on calories and/or GDAs can also be given as an optional extra.

2. Use red, amber or green colour coding to indicate whether levels of these nutrients are high, medium or low.

3. Use nutritional criteria developed by the FSA to determine the colour code.

4. Give information on the levels of nutrients in a portion of the product.

For processed foods which consumers had indicated they found difficult to determine the nutritional quality of.

The 3 Main Types Of Signposting Schemes Being Used In The UK – 30,000 products

Traffic Lights

Colour Coded GDA

Monochrome GDA

Adopters and Supporters of Traffic Light Labelling

Approach has been adopted by:• 8 retailers• 22 manufacturers• 6 service providers• 1 restaurant/caterer

Approach is also publicly supported by 23 public interest organisations

‘Traffic Light’ Signposts in the Marketplace

Sainsburys

Waitrose

Co-operative

New Covent Garden Soup Company

Making healthier in-category choices(Agency recommended categories for signposting)

Breakfast Cereals

LOW

Fat

LOW

Sat Fat

LOW

Sugars

LOW

Salt

0.7g

Per serve

0.2g

Per serve

0.2g

Per serve

Trace

Per serve

LOW

Fat

LOW

Sat Fat

HIGH

Sugars

MEDIUM

Salt

0.8g

Per serve

0.3g

Per serve

11.8g

Per serve

0.3g

Per serve

Each 45g serving with 125ml semi skimmed milk contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

217

Sugars

6.3g

Fat

3.2g

Saturates

1.4g

Salt

0.2g

11% 5%7% 7% 3.3%

Each 30g serving contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

116

Sugars

11.8g

Fat

0.8g

Saturates

0.3g

Salt

0.3g

6% 1%13% 2% 5%

Shredded Wheat Coco Pops

LOW

Fat

LOW

Sat Fat

LOW

Sugars

MEDIUM

Salt

4g

Per serve

0.9g

Per serve

2.6g

Per serve

1.4g

Per serve

HIGHFat

24.7gPer serve

6.3gPer serve

4.2gPer serve

1.9gPer serve

HIGHSat Fat

LOWSugars

HIGHSalt

Sandwiches

Each sandwich contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

262

Sugars

2.6g

Fat

4g

Saturates

0.9g

Salt

1.4g

13% 5%3% 3% 23%

Tesco Healthy Eating Salmon and Cucumber

Each sandwich contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

480

Sugars

4.2g

Fat

24.7g

Saturates

6.3g

Salt

1.9g

24% 35%5% 32% 32%

Tesco Finest Chicken, Bacon and Avacado

Making healthier in-category choices(Agency recommended categories for signposting)

Making healthier in-category choices

(Agency recommended categories for signposting)

Ready Meals

Sainsburys Be Good to Yourself Chicken Korma

Sainsburys Thai Red Chicken Curry

HIGHFat

HIGHSat Fat

LOWSugars

MEDIUMSalt

39gPer serve

22gPer serve

13.5gPer serve

1.4gPer serve

LOWFat

LOWSat Fat

LOWSugars

MEDIUMSalt

5.2gPer serve

2.8gPer serve

5.2gPer serve

0.9gPer serve

Each meal contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

404

Sugars

5.2g

Fat

5.2g

Saturates

2.8g

Salt

0.9g

20% 1%8% 14% 15%

Each meal contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

813

Sugars

13.5g

Fat

39g

Saturates

22g

Salt

1.4g

41% 56%15% 110% 23%

Sausages

MEDIUMFat

4.9gPer serve

1.9gPer serve

0.6gPer serve

0.8gPer serve

MEDIUMSat Fat

LOWSugars

HIGHSalt

HIGHFat

HIGHSat Fat

LOWSugars

HIGHSalt

12.7gPer serve

5.1gPer serve

0.8gPer serve

0.8gPer serve

Asda Brand Thick pork Sausages

Walls Pork Sausages

Each sausage contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

93

Sugars

0.6g

Fat

4.9g

Saturates

1.9g

Salt

0.8g

5% 7%1% 10% 13%

Each 30g sausage contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

128

Sugars

0.6g

Fat

12.7g

Saturates

5.1g

Salt

0.8g

6% 18%1% 26% 13%

Making healthier in-category choices(Agency recommended categories for signposting)

Making healthier in-category choices(Agency recommended categories for signposting)

Breaded, Coated or Formed Meat Products

MEDIUM

Fat

MEDIUM

Sat Fat

LOW

Sugars

MEDIUM

Salt

11g

Per serve

3g

Per serve

0.3g

Per serve

1g

Per serve

Birdseye Chicken Char-grills

Tesco Garlic Butter Chicken Kievs

HIGHFat

HIGHSat Fat

LOWSugars

MEDIUMSalt

39.6gPer serve

21gPer serve

1.4gPer serve

1.2gPer serve

Each char-grill contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

190

Sugars

0.3g

Fat

11g

Saturates

3g

Salt

1g

24% 16%<1% 15% 16%

Each Kiev contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

474

Sugars

1.4g

Fat

39.6g

Saturates

21g

Salt

1.2g

24% 57%2% 105% 20%

Pizza

MEDIUMFat

9.1gPer serve

4.8gPer serve

4.8gPer serve

1.4gPer serve

MEDIUMSat Fat

LOWSugars

MEDIUMSalt

Sainsburys Thin & Crispy Cajun Chicken

HIGHFat

HIGHSat Fat

LOWSugars

HIGHSalt

25.2gPer serve

8.7gPer serve

4.5gPer serve

3gPer serve

Sainsburys Italian PepperoniHalf a pizza contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

545

Sugars

4.5g

Fat

25.2g

Saturates

8.7g

Salt

3g

27% 36%5% 44% 50%

Half a pizza contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

391

Sugars

4.8g

Fat

9.1g

Saturates

4.8g

Salt

1.4g

20% 13%5% 24% 23%

Making healthier in-category choices(Agency recommended categories for signposting)

Cheese

HIGH

Fat

HIGH

Sat Fat

LOW

Sugars

HIGH

Salt

14g

Per serve

8.7g

Per serve

Trace

Per serve

0.7g

Per serve

Weight Watchers Low Fat Mature Cheddar

Seriously Strong Full Fat Mature Cheese

LOWFat

MEDIUMSat Fat

MEDIUMSugars

HIGHSalt

0.9gPer serve

0.7gPer serve

2.3gPer serve

0.8gPer serve

A 40g serving contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

164

Sugars

Trace

Fat

14g

Saturates

8.7g

Salt

0.7g

8% 20%<1% 44% 12%

A 40g serving contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

75

Sugars

2.3

Fat

0.9g

Saturates

0.7g

Salt

0.8g

4% 1%2.5% 4% 13%

Making healthier in-category choices

Cakes and Biscuits

Mr Kipling Almond Slice

Mr Kipling Bakewell Slice

HIGH

Fat

HIGH

Sat Fat

HIGH

Sugars

MEDIUM

Salt

7.4g

Per serve

3.6g

Per serve

22.8g

Per serve

0.25g

Per serve

Each slice contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

164

Sugars

22.8g

Fat

7.4g

Saturates

3.6g

Salt

0.25g

8% 11%25% 18% 4%

Each slice contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

146

Sugars

13.7g

Fat

5.1g

Saturates

1.5g

Salt

0.25g

7% 7.3%15% 8% 4%

Making healthier in-category choices

MEDIUM

Fat

MEDIUM

Sat Fat

HIGH

Sugars

MEDIUM

Salt

5.1g

Per serve

1.5g

Per serve

13.7g

Per serve

0.25g

Per serve

Crisps

HIGH

Fat

HIGH

Sat Fat

LOW

Sugars

HIGH

Salt

8.3g

Per serve

3.8g

Per serve

0.5g

Per serve

2.25g

Per serve

Walkers Standard Crisps

MEDIUM

Fat

LOW

Sat Fat

MEDIUM

Sugars

HIGH

Salt

2.1g

Per serve

0.3g

Per serve

2g

Per serve

0.4g

Per serve

Walkers Baked Crisps

Making healthier in-category choices

Each 25g pack contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

131

Sugars

0.5g

Fat

8.3g

Saturates

3.8g

Salt

2.25g

7% 12%1% 19% 38%

Each 25g pack contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

99

Sugars

2g

Fat

2.1g

Saturates

0.3g

Salt

0.4g

5% 3%2% 2% 7%

Chocolate

MEDIUMFat

HIGHSat Fat

HIGHSugars

LOWSalt

3.2gPer serve

1.9gPer serve

8.5gPer serve

TracePer serve

Boots Shapers Mint Nougat and Dark

Chocolate Bar

HIGHFat

HIGHSat Fat

HIGHSugars

LOWSalt

10gPer serve

4.9gPer serve

24gPer serve

nilPer serve

Asda Caramel Filled Bar

Each bar contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

83

Sugars

8.5g

Fat

3.2g

Saturates

1.9g

Salt

Trace

4% 5%9% 10% <1%

Each bar contains

Of your guideline daily amount

Calories

201

Sugars

24g

Fat

10g

Saturates

4.9g

Salt

Trace

10% 14%27% 25% <1%

Making healthier in-category choices

Advantages of ‘Traffic Lights’

• Instantly comparable

• Colours based on standard amount of a product (100g)

• Indication of whether product has high, medium or low levels of key nutrients

• Based on Government advice

Agency’s Nutritional Criteria for Colour coded Signposting Scheme

Green (Low) Amber (Medium)

Red (High)

Fat ≤3.0g/100g >3.0g to ≤ 20.0g/100g

>20.0 g/100g >21.0g/ portion

Saturates ≤ 1.5 g/100g >1.5g to ≤ 5.0g /100g

> 5.0 g/100g >6.0g/ portion

Total Sugars

5.0 g/100g >5.0 to ≤ 15g /100g

>15.0g/100g1] >18.0g/ portion3

Salt[2] ≤ 0.30 g/100g >0.3 to ≤ 1.5g /100g

>1.50 g/100g >2.40g/ portion[3]

[1] The Agency has asked SACN to review and advise on intakes of sugars as part of its future work programme.[2] Sodium from all sources expressed as salt.[3] To be reviewed in 2008 to reflect progress on salt reduction work.

Signposting workshop

Fat Sat Fat Sugar SaltFat Sat Fat Sugar Salt

In groups examine the nutritional information on the cards you have been provided with. Based on the information you have received today, consider whether each product is high, medium or low in fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt. Complete the circles below for each product by entering what colour category the product falls into for fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.

Fat Sat Fat Sugar Salt Fat Sat Fat Sugar Salt

If you require any further information, please contactSharon Gilmore on

Tel: 02890 417753

email: sharon.gilmore@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk