This work package researched the incidence, penetration and typology of nutrition information, including nutrition and health claims, on food and drink labels.
Through mapping the existing labelling schemes in Europe (EU 27 and Turkey), the consortium partners created a benchmark of consumer exposure to nutrition labels in different countries, and identified the major types of labels used as well as the major differences between the different systems. This research was conducted in different types of retailers and different geographical locations to reflect the different exposure for socio-economic groups.
This involved:
- Producing a benchmark analysis of the current incidence and penetration of nutrition information on food labels (both front and back-of-pack systems) in the different EU Member States, and analysing to what extent food products on the shelves have nutrition information on labels and how that nutrition information varies by product category.
- Creating an inventory of current practice of providing nutrition information on labels by retailers and food producers, with special emphasis on current practices of SMEs.
- Deriving a typology of different types of food labels and identifying major differences between the different systems. Products aimed at children and SME products received special attention.
In addition to the mapping exercise which looked at all the products on the shelves for 5 product categories (breakfast cereals, soft drinks, biscuits, yoghurts, prepacked fresh ready meals), the consortium partners assessed the presence and extent of any Public Health Nutrition awareness schemes in the EU 27. The potential impact on consumer response to nutrition and health information on labels was then examined in function of any such awareness raising campaign. Furthermore, focus groups or interviews were conducted in selected countries to obtain qualitative insights into how meaningful the different forms of labels were to consumers.
Publications