In 2002, the UK launched 'The Better Food Labelling' initiative.
It's aim was to investigate whether consumers understood the current food labelling standard
on food products and whether new guidelines should be introduced.
Local research carried out in an Islington supermarket, indicated
that consumers are ill informed as to the ways in which nutritional
information is displayed on food packaging.
Some consumers interviewed thought a visual guideline on packaging would help to
distinguish between trans-fats, low sugar and high in fibre products.
The Consumers' Association conducted a survey of 984 adults
aged 15-plus in their homes. The results confirmed that consumers
do value nutritional information; and established that 89
per cent of respondents thought that 'it was important that
nutritional information is shown on all food products' and
85 per cent agreed that 'nutritional information panels should
be laid out in the same way for all food products.'
GM foods are covered by extensive label controls which were
updated in 2000. The European Commission generated a study
focusing specifically on consumers which revealed that 67.9%
of them were concerned about the safety of food products.
The Commission decided to conduct an information campaign
on food safety in the 15 Member States of the European Union
in 1998 and 1999.
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