Nutrition labels now on 20,000 UK products

Around 20,000 food and drink products now carry labels showing guideline daily amounts of key nutrients.

Fifty firms have introduced the front of pack labels on everything from ready meals to chocolate bars.

But the labels do not use the traffic light colour-coding recommended by the official food watchdog.

The Food Standards Agency wants red, amber and green colours to indicate the levels of fat, salt and sugar contained in processed foods.

But the group of 50 firms including Cadbury, Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, PepsiCo, Morrisons and Tesco have rejected that advice in favour of using guideline daily amounts.

Both systems are now running in tandem on products on UK shop shelves.

A Food Standards Agency spokeswoman welcomed the high take-up of nutritional labelling.

“However, our extensive consumer research shows it’s the use of red, amber and green colour-coding that helps people to make healthier choices when shopping,” she added.