NO: Professor John Sanders, head of nutritional sciences, King's CollegeLondon
The proposed system does not discriminate between healthier choices inpractice and demonises perfectly healthy foods. Given the concern aboutobesity in children, the proposed system fails to warn about thecalories in a portion, which is probably the single most importantnutritional fact consumers need to know. Warning labels for saturatesand salt are justified, but not for fat and sugar. It is fat qualityrather than the total amount that is linked to risk of heartdisease.
YES: Annie Seeley, registered public health nutritionist
Supermarkets need to use this system of food labelling. Food StandardsAgency research shows conclusively that consumers understand it andprefer it. The agency is recommending it is used for highly processedfoods rather than foods like cheese or bacon. If you cook a meal fromscratch it's easy to see how much fat, salt and sugar you put in it.When you buy it ready made, however, it's difficult to know thenutritional profile, as these foods often contain hidden fats, sugarsand/or salt.
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