The Coca-Cola Company, Mars, Mondeléz International, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever have joined together to promote healthier diets and balanced lifestyles in the EU by focusing on nutritional labelling on products.
The companies have launched an initiative on Evolved Nutrition Label and established a task force that will aim to integrate portion sizes into the existing colour-coded RI scheme, as applied in the UK and Ireland.
Mondeléz said, "[Prominent on-pack nutritional labelling can play an] important role to inform consumers on the levels of nutrients and the overall energy content of what they eat and drink, thus empowering them to make healthier choices and eat and drink mindfully."
It is pushing for a meaningful, consistent and single nutritional labelling scheme across Europe, one that is in compliance with existing EU regulations.
'Evolved Nutrition Labelling'
In Europe, nutrition labels have been changing over the years, in response to consumer needs and stakeholder expectations. Now, the companies are implementing an ‘EU-harmonised, colour-coded labelling scheme’, which will encourage smaller portion sizes.
Mondeléz added, "Alongside reformulation and innovation, smaller portion sizes (based on credible portions) play a key role to support healthier consumer choices and should therefore be recognised as such in an evolved nutrition labelling scheme."
The companies will work with other food-industry players, retailers, NGOs and the European Commission to gather feedback and identify a ‘credible and workable’ solution.
Mondeléz said, "All of the undersigned companies are committed to accelerate work at a European level, to be able to integrate both enhancements (colour-coding and supporting smaller portion sizes) in the current RI scheme.
"We acknowledge ongoing local discussions, and signatory companies will continue to engage constructively, in line with the progress made in the aforementioned task force and the individual companies’ positions."
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
