Five of the UK’s biggest-selling food companies, Danone, Kellogg’s, Kraft, Nestlé and Pepsico are to place nutritional labels on the front of their products with “guideline daily amounts” (GDAs) for calories, fats, saturated fats, sugar and salt. The new labelling will not use colour-coding, the method favoured by the Food Standards Agency, but will instead state what percentage of an individual’s recommended daily amount of key nutrients a portion contains.
Consumer group Which? has accused the food manufacturers of undermining the Food Standards Agency efforts to implement a consistent signposting scheme across the food industry and argues that the companies’ alternative model will confuse consumers trying to choose healthy foods.
But Cadbury Schweppes and Masterfoods UK also plan to implement GDA labelling, and Tesco, which launched GDA labelling last year, has found that customers find it “helpful and informative”. Contact Food and Drink Federation www.fdf.org.uk or Which? www.which.co.uk
One for the kids
Sainsbury’s is to be the first retailer to provide Guidance Daily Amounts (GDAs) for children aged 5-10 years on all its own- brand products. The move follows research with 1000 consumers, which indicated that customers would welcome help in making healthy food choices for children. Contact J Sainsbury www.j-sainsbury.co.uk
No u12
Members of the Union of European Beverages Associations have committed to stop direct marketing of products to children under the age of 12, in a bid to tackle the growing incidence of childhood obesity in the EU. UNESDA member companies, which include Coca-Cola, Pepsico and Unilever, have also pledged to stop sales of products from vending machines in primary schools and to increase their range of drinks with low or no calories.
But with nearly a third of English children between the ages of two and fifteen classed as obese, consumer association Which? says these commitments do not go far enough. It has launched a campaign to stop “irresponsible marketing” and end the advertising of foods high in sugar, fat and salt to children. Chief Policy Adviser Sue Davies said: “Which? will keep on pestering these industries until they stop bombarding our kids with fat and sugar-loaded foods and drinks. All children are influenced by food advertising whether they’re aged four or 14”.
Which? has also released a report highlighting what it describes as “underhand methods” marketing companies use to advertise unhealthy foods to children. Childcatchers: the tricks used to push unhealthy food to your children highlights twelve techniques used to target children, including:
– text messaging – Fanta (manufactured by Coca Cola) used a promotion technique offering the chance to win a mobile phone by texting a special code on the can.
– websites – branded websites appeal directly to children’s interests. For example, www.mouthwateringtv.co.uk offers gossip, competitions and games and several mentions of Starburst sweets (made by Mars).
Meanwhile, in the US, Viacom the media group and cereal maker Kellogg’s have been threatened with legal action by parents and a consumer group over claims that there is a direct link between their television advertising and increasing juvenile obesity rates. Contact UNESDA-CISDA www.unesda-cisda.org or Which? www.which.co.uk
Responsible drinking
A new set of standards to improve good practice in the sale of alcoholic drinks has been launched by the drinks industry in partnership with the government. Social Responsibility Standards for the Production and Sale for Alcoholic Drinks in the UK addresses the responsible advertising, marketing and retailing of drinks throughout the supply chain. Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association said: “We recognise that we have a role to play in addressing alcohol misuse. We now have a code which provides a framework on social responsibility for us all to work together, with the same objectives, and in partnership with the government”.
Despite concerns that the liberalisation of drink laws would fuel disorder and crime, Home Office figures show that violent crime has fallen by 11% since the licensing laws were liberalised. However, this reduction in crime could be the result of a six-week government campaign to tackle alcohol related behaviour, which coincided with expanded licensing laws. Contact British Beer and Pub Association or The Home Office www.homeoffice.gov.uk
School rules
Compass-owned Scolarest has lost a bid to provide meals to schools in Camden to rival firm Cater Link, as the local council attempts to improve school meals in the borough. Cater Link emerged as winners in the tendering process for offering “a varied and imaginative menu with organic options and healthy choices”. Contact Camden Council www.camden.gov.uk
Health concerns in the bag?
Pepsico is relaunching its Walkers brand with a new lower fat, lower salt recipe. Crisps will be cooked in sunflower oil and contain 70% less saturated fat than in 2005 and only half a gram of salt per bag. The change comes amid growing concern about the health risks of eating high-fat, salty foods in excess. Contact Walkers Snack Foods www.walkers.corpex.com
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