Traffic light rating system

The traffic light labeling on food packaging is easy to understand the content of health-related nutrients signal, such as fats, saturated fats, sugar and salt.

• 4.1 European Union
• 4.2 United Kingdom
• 4.3 Germany
• 4.4 Switzerland

Principle

Used to disclose each of the levels of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt. The marking is a hand colored in shades of green for low, yellow for medium and red for a high salary. In addition, the values ​​are estimated. Since more than three characters are reported, it is a multiple traffic light. It should be clearly visible on the front of the packaging. The values ​​are based on information provided by the British Food Standards Agency Food Standards Agency (FSA ) and refer to each 100 grams or 100 milliliters of the product.

As with most products, only the sodium content is specified, the salt content, according to the FSA by multiplying the sodium content can be determined with 2.5. The salt content is specified as 0 g if the sodium content is less than 0.03 g in 100 g or 100 ml. At a content of fat or saturated fat less than 0.1 g in 100 g or 100 ml of the content is also specified as 0 g. In Milcherzeugnis-/Joghurtgetränken the criteria of food is used as a basis for classifying the nutritional contents.

Background

To counteract the malnutrition in the population, was requested by parties and organizations within various European countries an easy to understand labeling of food packaging. This should enable the consumer to identify before purchase if the product exceeds certain limits of nutrient content, thereby contributing to an unhealthy diet.

For this purpose, the so-called " traffic light " introduced. Used for the first time in 2004 in the United Kingdom by the FSA, it denotes the content of various nutrients with the known colors of a traffic light. For example, in a product more than the average sugars, the term sugar in red. Accordingly, the colors yellow and green are used.

Effects

Scientific Publications

An analysis (2007) of 58 published between 2003 and 2006 studies on the EU -15 countries, comes to the conclusion that there was no practical guidance on how food labels are used in everyday shopping situations and affect eating behavior. This result confirms the conclusion of a 2004 release reviews that the relationship between nutrition information and diet quality is largely unknown. Only 9% of it analyzed 103 publications were carried out scientific quality criteria require. A study from the United Kingdom, where the traffic light was introduced, found no health-relevant effects on consumption decisions.

Physicians at the Massachusetts General Hospital marked in accordance with the health of food in the local coffee shop with red, yellow and green. Half a year later showed that customers significantly more often selected with " green " labeled food and this habit continued detainment.

Other resonance

A consumer survey of UK consumer organization Which? resulted in summer 2006 that the traffic light of over 90 % of respondents rated as easily and quickly understandable in comparison to other forms of marking. The target set was achieved. During the period of use, it was found that the consumption behavior of consumers and sometimes the recipes of the manufacturer changed.

After the introduction of the traffic light system came this week in Germany, among other things criticized the food industry the system. A list of the nutrients they could not replace it. The federal government leads of Food Law and Food Science ( BLL) - a trade association for the food industry - a variety of criticisms at the traffic light system. So the criteria for classification of traffic for the consumer did not stand up and not scientifically justifiable. Furthermore, the different needs of people ( eg age- dependent) of nutrients can not be taken into account. The real reasons for the rejection of the industry are, however, partially seen in feared drop in sales of high-calorie products. Consumer advocates argue that the true nutritional content of the products would use the previously printed GDA labeling obscures rather than made ​​transparent.

The Committee on Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the German Bundestag concluded that traffic light labeling is rather better information and education preferable to healthy nutrition.

According to a study by the consumer organization Food Watch the traffic light labeling allows a much simpler estimation compared to the GDA labeling. When comparing similar products could through the traffic light labeling significantly more study participants kalorienhaltigeren the products identified as by the conventional identification. It was also criticized that opponents of the food traffic light on studies called, conducted by the food industry or have been funded and the results thus do not correspond to the truth.

According to another survey, which was commissioned by Food Watch and carried out in July 2009 by Emnid, support more than two thirds of Germans the new system.

In August 2009, the insurance companies called on the Federal Government and those responsible for health, Food and Consumer Protection European politicians to work for the labeling of foodstuffs using the traffic light system. In the open letter they wrote among other things: " The lack of transparency about the composition of an ever-increasing food supply and the adventitious misleading advertising claims of the manufacturer counteract our commitment to a healthy lifestyle. "

In March 2010, representatives of the German Professional Association of Child and Adolescent Physicians and the Association of European pediatricians called for the introduction of the traffic light system. To the Members of the EU Parliament they wrote among other things: " We urge you to support not only the interests of the food industry. "

Situation in individual countries and the EU

European Union

According to a study commissioned by Food Watch legal opinion runs the model for nutrition labeling, which was proposed by the European Commission, to the fact that no country in the EU could impose the traffic light model.

Great Britain

The traffic light is being tested in the UK since 2006. Since not all manufacturers to participate in the identification, statements about success or failure will partially doubted.

Germany

The introduction of food labeling with the traffic lights has been requested by the Greens in the Bundestag rejected by the factions of the CDU / CSU, SPD and FDP on 6 March 2008 as recommended by the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. According to a report in the Berliner Zeitung planned Horst Seehofer, former Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, introduce traffic light labeling on a voluntary basis. This should - contrary to the original rejection - happen because of the desire of the CSU and various German states.

According to Food Watch more than 70 % of direct candidates were in favor of the 2009 federal election for the introduction of food traffic light in Germany. Approx. 20 % are against the traffic light model, mainly members of the CDU and FDP.

The frozen producer Frosta announced on 6 June 2009 that four of the 50 products featured in August with a traffic light.

Consumer advocates and health organizations demand and support the introduction of the food traffic light and take the federal government inaction before. According to surveys, want more than two-thirds of citizens believe that the federal government is committed to the introduction of traffic light labeling.

The company offers barcoo Since March 2009, a software, with which a traffic light labeling can show by barcode scan of a food on the mobile phone.

Switzerland

The introduction of food labeling with the traffic should be handled by the Federal Parliament. The discussion was postponed on March 22, 2013.