UK-based supermarket chain Morrisons is planning to move to a new hybrid labeling system which combines guideline daily amounts (GDA) and traffic lights, to better inform consumers about the product’s nutritional content.
The company plans to implement the new method if an agreement can be reached by the UK food industry and government on the nutritional criteria.
The current system uses a traffic light display, where the product packaging features red, amber or green color based on the nutritional content.
However, Morrisons noted that retailers use different criteria to convert nutritional information into traffic lights, which prevents shoppers making clear comparisons between products. As a result, foods which have similar nutritional profiles show different colours on the traffic light display.
Morrisons brand development director Sonia Whiteley-Guest said that a system which combines GDAs and traffic lights and is based on common nutritional criteria would help customers make healthier choices.
"The current traffic light system is undermined by inconsistent nutritional criteria, which is a recipe for confusion not clarity. We will work hard to reach a common set of rules which clears up the confusion and makes life easier for customers," Whiteley-Guest added.
