Nutrition labelling: European Union and United Kingdom perspectives

The growing public interest in the relationship between diet and health and increasing public health problems in Europe were among the determining factors which led the European Commission to propose harmonized legislation on nutrition labelling. The Directive which was adopted in 1990 primarily aimed at providing information which helps consumers to make an informed choice and assist action in the area of nutrition education for the public. The provisions of the Directive are voluntary but become obligatory if the manufacturer decides to make a 'nutritional claim'. Where nutrition labelling is applicable, the information may be given in two formats: group 1, energy value and the amounts of protein, carbohydrate and fat ('Big 4'); or group 2, energy value and the amounts of protein, carbohydrate, sugars, fat, saturates, fibre and sodium ('Big 8'). A claim for one of the following sugar, saturated fat, fibre or sodium automatically triggers group 2 information. Additional information can be provided on the amounts of starch, polyols, mono-unsaturates, poly unsaturates, cholesterol and any of the vitamins or minerals. The nutrition information must be given per 100 g or 100 mL of food but may also be declared per quantified serving of food, or per portion where the number of portions is indicated on the label. The information must be presented together in one place in tabular form. A revision of the Nutrition Labelling Directive is due and will address issues such as the voluntary character of the legislation, the amount of information given and its presentation, legibility and consumer understanding.