(Brussels, 24 April 2008) A voluntary food labelling system developed by the EU food and drink industry is being taken up by companies of all sizes across the EU, it emerged on the third anniversary of the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health.

The Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) labelling system, developed by industry under the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, is already being rolled out by large companies for a majority of products this year.

(published April 2008) 

Ferrero has recently decided to implement GDAs for its best known products. By the end of 2009, Kinder and Nutella products in Europe will clearly display their energy, sugars, fat, saturated fat, and sodium/salt content.

Emerging results from the largest independent research yet carried out into commitments made under the obesity platform suggests that small companies are now following their example(1).

The new research includes SMEs for the first time, as well as large food companies. 2025 companies have been questioned for the survey so far, of which more than half were SMEs.

The food sectors covered include bakery products, breakfast cereals, confectionery, meat based products, dairy products, ice cream, oils & fats, sauces & seasonings, and soft drinks.

GDAs are a guide to how much energy and key nutrients are required for a healthy diet. The GDA label makes it easier for consumers to see what proportion of their daily nutritional needs is being met by any particular food or drink product.

Separate consumer research published in the UK – where GDA labelling is used on more than 50% of all retail packs – shows high levels of awareness of the scheme among shoppers who are increasingly using this nutrition information to make better informed food choices. They are using GDAs to check what is inside the packs they are buying, choose produce with the lowest amount of specific nutrients or to compare between two products in the same category. (www.fdf.org.uk/gdas).

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(1) ‘Survey of European Food and Beverage Manufacturers: Meeting the Changing Needs of European Consumers through reformulation, innovation and labelling’ (ongoing). APCO Insight & Dr. Brian Young, University of Exeter.

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