1. UK voluntary Front of Pack nutrition labelling scheme Trudy Netherwood

2. Example Labels

3. Background - Our scheme is based on more than 12 years of research, extensive modelling, and stakeholder engagement.
2001 – Qualitative Research on Signposting
2004 – Testing 5 labelling concepts
2005 – Further creative development of GDA approaches
2005 Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of signposting labelling concepts
May 2009 Qualitative and quantitative research
January 2010 citizens forums
Reports of stakeholder discussions and summary of modelling work to support UK recommendation.
November 2012 – update on nutrition labelling consultation
January Update from round table meeting on nutrition labelling
The guidance for the voluntary scheme was launched in June 2013

4. Before the harmonised scheme introduction in 2013 - a range of schemes were used
Consumers were confused because there were many different front of pack labels on our market – colour only, colour and %RI and RI only. This meant products in the same store could not easily be compared.

5. Consumers’ use of colour
Consumers preferred a hybrid scheme of nutritional information (non-directive) with intuitive colour coding (directive).
Attitudes (specific dietary needs) play a part in consumers balancing high and low levels of different nutrients on single foods
Reds provoked further investigation of more detailed nutrition information.
Consumers balance sign posting with more general knowledge and are willing to accept more reds in some product categories e.g. ice-cream, fat spreads, snacks, confectionery, desserts, dairy food.
“If it was all green, you wouldn’t bother, you’d pick it up and throw it in your basket, but if it had red and yellow, you’d maybe look at the back and say, oh that’s all right.”
[Female, Pre-Family, BC1]

6. UK scheme format

7. Thresholds for UK 2013 Voluntary Front of Pack Scheme Food
Reference Intakes
(Annex XIII EU Reg 1169/2011)
Low
Green*
Medium
Amber
High
Red
(25% of each nutrient RI)
Portion >100g
(30% of each nutrient RI)
Fat
70g
≤3.0g/100
>3.0g to ≤17.5g/100g
>17.5 g/100g
>21g per portion
Saturates
20g
≤1.5g/100g
>1.5g to ≤5.0g/100g
>5.0g/100g
>6g per portion
(Total) Sugar
90g
≤5.0g/100g
> 5.0g to ≤22.5g/100g
>22.5g/100g
>27g per portion
Salt 6g
≤0.3g/100g
>0.3g to ≤1.5g/100g
>1.5g/100g
>1.8g per portion
Table 1: Food (Portion size criteria applies to portions/serving sizes greater than 100g)
* The green (low) /amber (medium) thresholds are determined by the EU Reg 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims as follow:-
Low Fat: No more than 3 g of fat per 100g.
Low in Saturated Fat: No more than 1.5g per 100g and must not provide more than 10% of energy.
Low in Sugar: No more than 5 g of sugars per 100g.
Low in Salt: No more than 0.3g of salt per 100g.

8. Thresholds for UK 2013 Voluntary Front of Pack Scheme Drink
Reference Intakes
(Annex XIII EU Reg 1169/2011)
Low
Green*
Medium
Amber
High
Red
(12.5% of each nutrient RI)
Portion >150ml
(15% of each nutrient RI)
Fat
70g
≤1.5g/100ml
>1.5g to ≤8.75g/100ml
>8.75g/100ml
>10.5g per portion
Saturates
20g
≤0.75g/100ml
>0.75g to ≤2.5g/100ml
>2.5g/100ml
>3g per portion
(Total) Sugar
90g
≤ 2.5g/100ml
> 2.5g to ≤11.25g/100ml
>11.25g/100ml
>13.5g per portion
Salt 6g
≤0.3g/100ml
>0.3 to ≤0.75g/100ml
>0.75g/100ml
>0.9g per portion
Table 2: Drink (Portion cap applies to any drink sold in portions of 150ml or over)
* The green (low) /amber (medium) thresholds are determined by the EU Reg 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims as follow:-
• Low Fat: No more than 1.5 g of fat per 100 ml for liquids.
• Low in Saturated Fat: No more than 0,75g/100 ml for liquids and must not provide more than 10% of energy.
• Low in Sugar: No more than 2.5 g of sugars per 100 ml for liquids.
• Low in Salt: No more than 0.3g of salt per 100ml.

9. Use of the scheme by businesses
Businesses (retailers and manufacturers) that have voluntarily decided to adopt the scheme are responsible for approximately two-thirds of the pre-packed food and drink market in the UK.
This includes major supermarkets and manufacturers, including some multinational companies.
Individual businesses and trade associations for the retail and manufacturing industry have provided information for consumers and health care professionals in the form of guidance, leaflets and information on websites.
The scheme has encouraged the reformulation of products by businesses and for the development of new product lines.

10. Consumer use and information
PHE life course tracker wave 4
(Oct months after the introduction of the harmonised scheme)
60% of consumers use the scheme with18% always using the colour coded labels, 17% often and 25% sometimes.
34% think this information is very easy to understand and a further 26% easy. 10

11. Support from health organisations
The Obesity Health Alliance, formed in the UK last year, supports the continuation and extension in the UK of the hybrid colour coded front of pack labelling scheme.
The alliance includes a broad range of stakeholder groups, including:
British Heart Foundation
British Medical Association
Royal College of Physicians
National Obesity Forum
Diabetes UK
Royal College of Nursing
Faculty of Public Health
Health Equalities Group
Royal College of Anaesthetists
British Society of Gastroenterology and many more…

12. Contact details
Dr Trudy Netherwood Food Policy Manager Obesity & Food Policy Branch, Health & Wellbeing Division, Public and International Health Directorate, Department of Health, Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG, UK. E: T: +44 (0)