EU: Victory for food lobby as MEPs reject new labelling rules

17 June 2010

MEPs caused outrage yesterday by rejecting a colour-coded system of food labelling which health campaigners said would inform consumers about levels of fat and sugar and halt rocketing levels of obesity.

Instead of the traffic light labelling system devised by the UK Food Standards Agency, the MEPs backed the Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA) system favoured by food manufacturers.

The GDA scheme, which has the support of Pepsico, Danone, Kraft and other multinational food corporations, is expected to be introduced across Europe by 2013, unless blocked by member states in the EU's Council of Ministers...

Source: Victory for food lobby as MEPs reject new labelling rules
Author: EU:

Link: Defeat of traffic lights explained --Renate Sommer, German Christian Democrat, explained
Link: MEPs set out clearer and more consistent food labelling rules...rejected a proposal for 'traffic light' values to highlight the salt, sugar and fat content of processed foods.