Co-op slams misleading labels
Healthy claims called into question
August 13 2002
Tthe Co-op is calling for a crack-down reveals in food labels which make misleading health claims.
The retail group wants the government to take action, and claims that it is challenging current law with a new consumer-friendly food label.
Working with Sustain the alliance for better food and farming, the Co-op has compiled a report which its said shows current labelling regulations are failing to protect consumers from over-zealous marketeers, keen to present their products as healthy. The Co-op said its evidence shows that companies are making ‘healthy eating’ claims for products which can be high in fat, sugar or salt; they can exploit the nutrition labelling regulations to hide the real nutritional value of their products; and where nutrition information is given, consumers are baffled because of regulations governing the way it is presented.
Wendy Wrigley, General Manager, retail brands, for the Co-operative Group, said: “We think it is misleading to claim a product has a health or nutrition benefit, when in fact its contribution to a healthy diet is negligible or worse.
“For example, a product which claims to be rich in minerals and vitamins, but is also 33 per cent fat, with an unspecified – but certainly very high – amount of sugar. Or products that claim to be healthy but when you look at the small print on the back, have a calculator to hand and know the formula for converting sodium into salt, you realise they also contain your maximum daily recommended salt.”
Unless companies are making a nutrition claim they do not currently have to show fat and sugar content, or igive any nutrition information at all. If they do, they can show just energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat. The Co-op said this denies consumers information on sugars, saturated fats and sodium.
The Co-op is calling for the new laws forcing all food products to carry full nutritional information, and also wants to see Europe introduce a consumer-friendly system for the presentation of information. A new-look consumer-friendly label is being trialled on Co-op Brand beefburgers and jam roly-poly pudding, available in most Co-op stores.
Wrigley said: “There are many contributory factors to diet-related disorders – misleading labelling is one that can be easily eliminated. We’re calling on food companies and retailers to join our campaign to sweep misleading labels off the shelves once and for all.”
The Co-op operates more than 1,000 food outlets in the UK.
