The comments come as the Food Standards Agency is to discuss this week its new proposals for front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling in the UK.
The FSA Board is proposing that information on a single label about the amount of fat, saturated fat, salt and sugars in a product should be presented using three elements; traffic light colours, text and percentage Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs).
The traffic light system uses colours and the words ‘high', ‘medium' and ‘low', while GDAs use recommended percentage amounts.
The FSA said some companies are already using this approach while others are using FOP schemes that provide some of these elements. Therefore it suggests flexibility to assist the transition to a single approach, allowing a minimum of two elements to be used initially.
However, the BRC said that food labelling regulations are currently being reviewed by the European Union and changing labels in the UK now “makes no sense”.
Andrew Opie, BRC food director, said: “It would be too soon for the UK to adopt any new regime of its own until a final decision about front-of-pack labelling is taken at European level. Changing and then changing again would just produce extra costs and customer confusion.”
An independent study last year found that the co-existence of different FOP labels confused consumers. It concluded that the words ‘high, medium and low’ were understood best, and combining this text with traffic light colours and percentage GDAs would enable more people to make healthier choices easily.
The FSA’s own research subsequently found that consumers particularly liked traffic light colours as an 'at a glance' cue.
Tim Smith, FSA chief executive, said: “Our proposals respond to what consumers want but also provide some flexibility for business.”
Following the FSA Board meeting on 10 March, the FSA will then formally submit the recommendations it decides on to health ministers.

Source: www.foodbizdaily.com