Labels are the ‘identity cards’ for the food we purchase and consume. Among many other things, labels provide information on the ingredients and the nutrition information contained in food products. Consistent nutrition information is an important prerequisite for making an informed choice about the products we buy.

In order for consumers to make better informed decisions about diet and nutrition, they have to know what they are eating and drinking. In response to increased consumer demand for clearer, more thorough nutritional information, Europe’s food and drink manufacturers are providing it - not just on packaging labels but in food aisles, brochures and on the Internet.

The examples on the following pages show that it is possible to provide both kinds of information simultaneously - and that CIAA is actively promoting improved nutrition labelling and nutrition education throughout Europe.

» All you need to know about GDAs and the CIAA Nutrition Labelling Scheme.

A comprehensive Quick Guide to using GDAs as well as companies using the scheme.

This document outlines the breadth of activities that member companies of the Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) have undertaken over the past five years, particularly in the area of promoting healthier lifestyles.

Each chapter documents the range of positive initiatives that have been taking place right across the sector and gives some practical examples of these activities at category or individual company level in the ‘In Focus’ sections

»  Download the booklet

This booklet is designed to share the obesity and nutrition approaches of TGDF who is the greatest non-governmental organization of Turkish Food and Drink Industry.

»  Download the booklet

The Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation data have revealed that in the beginning of 2008 about 40 companies operating in Finland have applied the GDA label to their products or have decided to do so this year. The labels will be found on for example • ready-to-eat foods • bakery products • dairy products • cold cuts • sausages • spreads • non-alcoholic drinks • sweets • breakfast and snack products

The first food products with GDA label entered Finnish food market in the Autumn 2007 with positive acceptance. According to a survey accomplished by TNS Gallup today about 33 percent of Finnish consumers and half of the consumers being less than 34 years are already familiar with the GDA label.

Members of Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) have launched a highlevel media campaign to help consumers to understand use the new Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) food labelling system. A dedicated website, www.gdaguide.ie will support the campaign and information booklets are available, free of charge, at www.fdii.ie/gda.

The FDII campaign is currently funded by several of the leading companies in the consumer foods sector, including Batchelors, Britvic, Cadbury, Coca Cola, Danone, Glanbia Consumer, Foods, Green Isle, Jacobs Fruitfield, Kellogg’s, Kepak, Kerry, Largo Foods, Mars, Nestle, PepsiCo, Premier Foods, Unilever.

Download booklets here
www.gdaguide.ie

• Providing consumer information through labelling: in June 2006, SEVT adopted the proposal put forward by CIAA for a common Nutrition Labelling Scheme. For the implementation of the initiative 2 Committees (Scientific and Communication) have been established under the umbrella of SEVT. The public announcement of the initiative took place in March 2007, during the General Assembly of the Federation, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Development and the General Secretary for Consumer Affairs. At national level 16 companies are willing to support the initiative, immediately or in the near future. Furthermore SEVT organized on 6 of December 2007 a meeting in order to inform its Member for the GDAs and to present the guideline for the GDAs application.
The survey results revealed that the majority of SEVT Members (68%) are committed to give to the consumers high quality, affordable products that will meet their current needs. The survey results were presented in the General Assembly of the Federation which took place in March 2007. The questionnaire will be circulated to SEVT Members every 2 years in order to enable SEVT to measure progress.

» Guidelines for for the GDAs application

• Self Regulatory Code for Food Labelling: in November 2006, SEVT introduced the Self Regulatory Code for Food Labelling. This Code has been fully endorsed by the Members of the Federation. A Deontological Committee has been established to guarantee the accurate application of the self regulatory rules on food labelling. The Statutes of SEVT have been modified accordingly upon approval of the General Assembly.

» Leaflet on food labelling

• Leaflet on food labelling: in November 2006, SEVT designed and printed a leaflet on food labelling. The leaflet has the scientific support of the Hellenic Food Authority and the Hellenic Dietetic Association.
The aim was to provide information about the labels to the consumers in order to better understand the labelling information. More than 20.000 copies have been distributed to the participants of the Nutrition Week on "Food Labelling" and also to dietary establishments, hospitals, schools, other entities, etc.

• New Web site on Diet & Health: In November 2007, a new Web Site dedicated on Diet & Health was launched.

» www.sevt.gr

Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII), the IBEC group that represents the food and drink sector, has launched an information booklet on Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs).

The launch coincides with new independent research findings on GDA labelling, revealing a positive consumer reaction to the new-style nutrition guidelines.

booklet on Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs)

In January 2008 this website has been launched (Both stakeholders and members have been informed). The funding was provided for by member companies..

The website provides information to consumers on the following topics:

• GDA (What is it and how can it be used?)
• Information on a healthy diet
• News
• Questions and Answers
• The companies that apply GDA on their label (this will be continuously updated)

Producers first have to log-in before they can enter the producers area of the website. There they can find information on:

• Why producers should apply the GDA concept
• Background information (on the CIAA nutrition labeling scheme)
• Downloads (a guide to implement the CIAA nutrition labeling scheme, a PowerPoint presentation on GDA for retail partners, the GDA icon as Adobe Illustrator document and a summary slide on results of research on GDA in the UK)
• News
• Questions and Answers
• The companies that apply GDA on their label (this will be continuously updated)
  

www.dagelijksevoedingsrichtlijn.nl (only in Dutch)

The initiative of the Fast8 group has proved to be successful among others as well. Chio-Wolf, Food Express (a Hungarian catering company) and McDonald’s (McDonald’s has a slightly different visual scheme, however, the wording (INBÉ) is the same, and they are also active members of the various promotion activities) and Tesco have all decided to join the GDA system in Hungary.

Hopefully, the list will soon get even longer, as the Hungarian Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health is receiving more and more inquiries from other companies as well.

www.mitiseszemiszom.hu