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Food Labelling Workshops

Goonergal

Master
Retired Moderator
Messages
13,461
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I received an email from Diabetes UK (not sure how I ended up on their list, but still...) about some workshops they are running across the country to discuss food labelling. You can sign up/express interest here:

https://forms.diabetes.org.uk/food-upfront
 
Resurgam said:
I left my contact information, and offered to do a survey - but the workshops are about calories not carbs so totally irrelevant for diabetics like me.
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Interesting. I had a different take - participation would give an opportunity to broaden the discussion. Have asked to go along to the London one, but depends on timing as I am at the Arsenal match that day, in which case it will be a survey.
 
Goonergal said:
Interesting. I had a different take - participation would give an opportunity to broaden the discussion. Have asked to go along to the London one, but depends on timing as I am at the Arsenal match that day, in which case it will be a survey.
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Hi. I am signed up for the London one at the end of September. It seems to be about carbs and cals and intends to propose broadening the scope of the discussion to restaurants, cafes etc. My DuK volunteer friend attended another of the workshops in which she suggested broadening still further to drinks.
I do not agree with DuK's take on this because they are in favour of 'traffic lights' in which foods high in sat fat, sugar and salt would be 'red' based on the Eatwell plate advice they promote. I do agree with making things simpler and more consistent but feel that until there is consensus on what constitutes a generally healthy diet and what makes us fat, we'll be struggling to get the food industry to change.
 
Anyone advocating extra information on labels should bear in mind that they are often difficult to read already. The label below is from a M&S Curry and Rice. I would suggest all labels should use a standard table for the nutrition, they could get rid of the translations to make space (I am happy to translate to English in the unlikely event of buying a ready meal abroad). The traffic light system just has to be ignored, it is based on the Recommended Daily Amount, so unless this changes the traffic lights are going to be meaningless anyway.

 

Tend to agree. A better campaign might be around what goes into some of this stuff.
 
These days so many people go around with their noses to their phones, why not make the information available online - maybe a more elaborate self service device for use in store, plus an app for phone or ipad, tablet etc. to help with food selection and meal planning - labels are so last century.
 
M&S are definitely the worst offenders on almost indecipherable labels and no info on their website at all.
Pretty poor show.
 
I have been given a place on the London workshop on 29th September. Anyone else?
 
Hi Boo1979 and Goonergirl! Did you go to that London workshop? Mine is the 29th in East London.
Were you able to share your thoughts? Did they offer any coffee??!
 
NicoleC1971 said:
Hi Boo1979 and Goonergirl! Did you go to that London workshop? Mine is the 29th in East London.
Were you able to share your thoughts? Did they offer any coffee??!
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Nicole I’m going to the one on 29th!
 
Unfortunately I cant go now and have had to cancel - my 87 year old mum had a fall and Im pretty caught up trying to sort out care arrangements before I go on hols.
 
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