Food companies’ refusal to sign up to a standardised labelling system is fuelling the obesity crisis, council leaders are warning.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said the ‘plethora’ of different food labelling systems is baffling shoppers and making it harder to identify which foods have high levels of fat, salt and sugar.
The Department of Health introduced a front of pack 'traffic light' system last year to tackle the problem, but only 60% of food and drink manufacturers have signed up to the voluntary scheme.
Cllr Katie Hall, chair of the LGA’s Community and Wellbeing Board, said: ‘The ‘traffic light’ food labelling system is clear, effective and popular with shoppers. The problem is that many food and drink giants have not signed up to it. This means shoppers have to contend with a bewildering number of different systems, many of which are totally confusing.
‘As a result, shoppers are unwittingly buying products which are laden with fat, salt and sugar, which is fuelling the obesity crisis. It takes on average just 15 seconds for a consumer to decide on a supermarket purchase.
‘The companies who have not signed up need to step up to plate and allow consumers to make an informed choice on what they eat and drink.’
The LGA is calling on all food giants - including Kraft Foods, Kellogg’s, Coca-Cola and Heinz – to sign up to the system. Health problems associated with obesity cost the NHS more than £5bn every year.
