UK Food Labels Ineffective in Identifying Most Unhealthy Ultra-Processed Products, Study Finds
A study published in BMJ Medicine reveals that official public health definitions and labeling systems in the UK, such as the traffic light system and the Food Standards Agency Nutrient Profiling Model (FSA-NPM), are largely ineffective in identifying unhealthy processed and ultra-processed foods. The study found that while the Eatwell Guide, a set of government recommendations, classified over 98% of ultra-processed products and 95% of processed products as unhealthy, the voluntary traffic light labels identified fewer than half (48.2%) of these foods as unhealthy. The FSA-NPM, used to restrict advertising of unhealthy foods, identified just over half (57.6%). This inconsistency means consumers may be purchasing foods high in fat, salt, and sugar without realizing their unhealthy nature, making it difficult to adhere to dietary guidelines.
