Consumers wanted to help improve food labels

Friday 24 May 2002

Ref: WA19/02KC

A third of Welsh consumers question the accuracy of food labels, and more than a quarter find labels difficult to understand, according to Food Standards Agency research.

Now the FSA is giving the public the chance to voice their concerns and to be involved in the development of the Agency’s policy on labelling.

The FSA is hosting an open forum on food labelling in Cardiff on Wednesday, 29 May 2002 as part of its attempts to tackling labelling problems so that people can make more informed choices about the food they eat.

A recent survey of consumers in Wales found that:

54% of people refer to food labels on a frequent basis;
27% find labels difficult to understand;
35% have concerns about the accuracy of food labels;
71% check best before or use by dates on labels, but 57% do not know that food should be thrown away after the use by date; and
General understanding of content labelling is poor, with only three in 10 (30%) able to identify the primary ingredient in a food product.

The Food Standards Agency has agreed a wide-ranging Labelling Action Plan, which includes a number of commitments, including pressing the EU for clearer rules on country of origin labelling, and working with consumer groups, enforcement authorities and the food industry to look at how the Agency might promote and share best practice on the promotion of foods to children.

Joy Whinney, FSA Wales Director, said: “Promoting honest and informative labelling to help consumers is one of the FSA's key priorities for the next five years. The Food Labelling Forum is an integral part of involving as many stakeholders as possible in the process.
"The Forum provides an update on the progress of the Food Labelling Action Plan but of equal importance is the opportunity it provides for the public to put forward ideas and ask questions about the labelling issues which matter to them. I hope as many people as possible will take advantage of this opportunity."

News contact: Kathryn Corcoran (029) 2067 8915

Notes for news editors

1. The Food Labelling Forum will be held in the Thistle Hotel, Park Place, Cardiff from 10.30am on Wednesday, 29 May.

2. Members of the public and other interested parties wishing to attend should contact Health Leadership Wales on 01656 753671. Alternatively, they can e-mail scourt@staffcollegewales.org.uk

3. Media wishing to attend should contact the number above.

11th Floor, Southgate House,
Wood Street,
Cardiff CF10 1EW
Telephone: 02920 678916
Fax: 02920 678918/9
Email: caroline.kitson@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

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Consumers wanted to help improve food labels

Notes for news editors

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