UK pushes voluntary added sugar labelling scheme

In its official response to a series of recommendations published by the Health Committee in a report on obesity, the government noted: “Current sugar labelling shows the total sugar content of foods but new maximum intake recommendations are based on the specific sugars that are easily over-consumed, not all sugars.

“Therefore we will develop clearer visual labelling on these specific sugars such as teaspoons of sugar or cubes to show consumers about the sugar content in packaged food and drink, in line with the government’s new sugar intake recommendations.”

Push back on proposals

The committee, which consists of MPs from across Parliament, also recommended a centrally-led reformulation programme to reduce sugar, as well as a parallel programme to cut calories and reduce fat.

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Food Labelling Services comments:

It is imperative that to be effective, the new voluntary sugar labelling scheme must be clear and simple for the consumer to understand. With major changes to all food product labels following the introduction of the Food Information for Consumers regulation 2011, consumers need a period of time to learn the new formats. How effective this scheme will be is debateable, as being a voluntary scheme products that are high in sugars need not inform consumers as to the levels in the products.