This work package will research 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 will create a benchmark of consumer exposure to nutrition labels in different countries, identifying the major types of labels used, as well as the major differences between the different systems. This research will be conducted in different types of retailers and different geographical locations to reflect the different exposure for socio-economic groups.
This involves:
- 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, 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 identify major differences between the different systems. Products aimed at children and SME products will receive special attention.
In addition to the mapping exercise which will look at all the products on the shelves for 5 product categories (breakfast cereals, soft drinks, biscuits, yoghurts, prepacked fresh ready meals), the consortium partners will assess 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 will then by examined in function of any such awareness raising campaign. Furthermore, focus groups or interviews will be conducted in selected countries to obtain qualitative insights on how meaningful consumers regard the different forms of labels.
