Traffic light food labelling can help in fight against type 2 diabetes

Diabetes UK has called for the introduction of a traffic-light labelling system on food products to help curb rates of type 2 diabetes.
In response to the Government’s consultation on food labelling, the health charity said a front-of-pack label that includes traffic-light coding, ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low’ text and the optional addition of guideline daily amounts, would help food shoppers make healthier choices and understand the contents of different products more clearly.
In addition to helping protect against type 2 diabetes, the group stressed that effective food labelling can also help those with the disease manage their condition and thus reduce the risk of developing serious complications such as heart disease, stroke and retinopathy.
Chief executive Barbara Young, said: “We want to see labelling that uses a traffic light system – together with text setting out whether the product is high, medium or low and the optional addition of percentage guideline daily amounts – and we have made this clear in our response to the consultation.
“With around a quarter of adults in the UK classed as obese and at increased risk of type 2 diabetes as well as other chronic conditions, it is important that we have food labelling that makes it easy for people to make healthy choices.
She added: “Independent evidence shows that the traffic-light system works better than labels which show only Guideline Daily Amounts to help shoppers make healthy choices when buying food.
“This is not about telling people what to eat but instead empowering them to lead healthier and happier lives.”