Increase nutritional information on food packaging

The EU's largest member state has seized the initiative and moved ahead with new guidelines for increased nutritional information on food packaging.

While anticipation mounts in the run up to the publication of DG SANCO's communication on labelling, it would appear that the EU's largest member state has seized the initiative and moved ahead with new guidelines for increased nutritional information on food packaging.

German Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Horst Seehofer announced the new labelling initiative this week as a part of the German government's 'Education and Information about Nutrition, Movement and Health' plan, which seeks to combat obesity and improve consumer information and choice.

The company fully support the new guidelines, which advise identifying "1 plus 4": calorific content plus fat, sugar, fatty acid and salt content, and expressing this through Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) per portion. This is in line with the CIAA scheme launched in 2006. 

Germany is Europe's second-largest savoury snacks market, second only to the UK, with a retail value of over €1.6bn. 

ESA recommends the use of GDAs to its members and they are already displayed on a large number of savoury snack packs. 

The ministry's decision, which will be the subject of an ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, including the German Nutrition Society, underlines the effectiveness of GDA labelling in providing consumers with clear information that enables them to make informed choices on the products they buy for themselves and their families. 

Like the German government, the European Commission’s imminent proposal on nutrition labelling builds on the GDA approach pioneered by the food industry. 

Source: EuroActiv