GDA or Traffic Light System?

Posted by dom on February 5th, 2007 — Posted in Opinion

There appears to be much debate over the two food packaging labeling systems. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have introduced the Traffic Light System but many food and drink manufacturers as well as supermarkets Tesco, Somerfield and Morrison, have chosen to use the GDA system (Guideline Daily Amounts)

The GDA system shows percentages of sugar, salt, fat and calories in each serving.

The Traffic Light System simply shows the three colours; red means the product is high in fat/saturated fat/sugar/salt, amber means medium levels and green, low.

I personally prefer the traffic light system. Whilst I am perfectly capable of working out percentages, when I am in the supermarket I want to simply shop, not take part in a complicated mathematics lesson. One of the arguments against the Traffic Light System is that it is patronising. I don’t feel patronised at all. If I can choose a healthier option with nothing but a quick glance at the label then I’m happy. I don’t need to show my mathematical capabilities in a shop to prove my worthiness. If I do however get stuck behind a shopper clutching a calculator whilst muttering about the amount of cheese she and her family will be allowed to have in one day if she decides to buy butter too… then I shall be looking for labels that claim to reduce high blood pressure, instantly.

Apparently twenty one companies and retailers have claimed that people will not buy food with red labels on them. Now I do find this patronising. If I buy a mature cheese or a doughnut am I going to be so surprised at the red light that I change my mind and buy a grape instead? I believe consumers deserve to be given more credit. The vast majority of people already know what is good or bad. The area where guidance is needed is for example with ready meals. If we discovered at a glance that a normal lasagne actually proved to be healthier than one that claims to be a healthier option, or suitable for people watching their weight, then we as the consumer have instantly benefited. For too long now, the consumer has had to trust a claim of a food being healthier or lower in fat. After all, lower in fat could simply mean that it has a lower fat content than their non-diet version. It does not necessarily mean it is LOW in fat. Now we should be able to judge for ourselves and leave the false and misleading claims on the shelves.

It is my opinion that the people who will benefit the most from an healthier diet in the long run are families with young children. Encouraging a generation of healthy eaters is a great step forward. Now, I know I am generalising here, but being a mother of a young child I am speaking from personal experience, and I believe the two main groups of people who are at the forefront of the gathering of the weekly food are stressed and tired Mums and helpful and inquisitive children. Would either of these enjoy working out percentages in the middle of a busy supermarket?.. Or would it be more fun to encourage the toddler/child to look for for food with green lights on?

This is just my opinion on the two labeling systems. I would be interested to hear of other views.

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