First EU-Funded Research Programme on Nutrition Labelling Launched

Nutrition labelling may be a quick guide to inform consumers about the nutrition content of different products, yet current use and actual effects on shopping basket composition remain largely unknown.

25/11/08 FLABEL (FOOD LABELLING TO ADVANCE BETTER EDUCATION FOR LIFE), the first EU-funded research programme on nutrition labeling has been officially launched. This 3-year EU 7th Framework small collaborative FLABEL project, will provide state-of-the-art science on nutrition labels and consumer behaviour as well as best practice guidelines for future research, industry and policy-makers.

In response to the prevalence of diet-related diseases, governments and food companies increasingly promote nutrition information on food labels to help the consumer make healthy, informed food choices. Nutrition labelling may be a quick guide to inform consumers about the nutrition content of different products, yet current use and actual effects on shopping basket composition remain largely unknown. Additionally, the different formats already in place (Nutrition table, Traffic Light scheme, Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA), Health Logos etc.) may stimulate different behaviours.

To thoroughly address the potential of food labelling as a useful source of nutrition information, FLABEL will fully examine the aspects that lead from label availability to effects on dietary intake.

Comprised of 12 partners from 8 countries, ranging from academic experts, retailers, SME-representatives to not-for-profit organisations, the FLABEL research consortium is well placed to provide key insights on the role that nutrition information on food labels plays.

FLABEL has two key research objectives:
1. To determine how nutrition information on food labels can affect dietary choices, consumer habits and food-related health issues by researching both the label and other factors/influences.

2. To provide the scientific basis on use of nutrition information on food labels, including scientific principles for assessing the impact of different food labelling schemes, to be shared with the EU institutions, the food industry, especially SMEs, and other stakeholders.

Amongst the many research findings, the consortium will achieve the following:

•An EU-wide map of nutrition information on food labels, showing to what extent nutrition labelling is currently available in all EU countries.

•Knowledge on:
o how consumers actually become aware of and read the food labels,
o which labels are most appealing and informative, and
o how to best strike a balance between simple and complete nutrition information, facilitating an informed choice.

•Information on actual nutrition label use in the “real world”. This will be based on in-store observations and retail scanner data, leading to solid insights into how nutrition labels may shape behaviour and affect consumption patterns.

•Evidence on how consumers form opinions about the healthiness of products, and how the nutrition label information interacts with other information in this process, including media, advertising and school education.

• Evidence on how nutrition labels can be used to positively influence children’s dietary intake, based on the role nutrition information on food labels plays in food decision-making in families with children.

• Research-based best practice proposal for nutrition labelling, tested in a real-world store environment.

•Set of best practice methods for assessing the impact of nutrition labelling on consumer’s product choice.