WHO Europe Action Plan calls for easy to understand front-of-pack labeling and more product reformulation

September 22th, 2014

In its “European Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2015-2020”, WHO Europe calls upon all European governments to strengthen their actions on healthier food and do so in an integrated approach. The urgency is there. More than half of the adults in Europe suffers from overweight or obesity and the toll of NCDs is unnecessarily high.

Choices International welcomes this call for action. It includes valuable action points on reformulation and labeling, that closely fit with the Choices programme.
 
Regarding the quality of the food supply, further steps in lowering the salt, sugar, SAFA and transfat content of food products are strongly advised, with a leading role for governments. Also the supply of healthier foods in catering outlets, e.g. at schools, is recommended as well as healthy retail environments.

On communication, the Action Plan asks governments to increase consumer friendly labeling by establishing easy-to-understand or interpretive front-of-pack labels , to help consumers to identify healthier options and to encourage producers and retailers to reformulate their products.
Besides, further steps are strongly requested in limitation of marketing to children of food products high in sugar, salt, SAFA and transfat  These steps should also include internet and social media.
Talking about the internet, the Action encourages the use of social media to promote healthy food choices and healthy life styles.

The Action Plan makes clear that the success of the envisioned actions depends on monitoring as well as stakeholder engagement, including the agri-food sector.