Labelling

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revised its guidance on clear labelling for food packaging to reflect concerns that some of the existing labels are too small for many people.

In the revised guidance, the Agency suggested using black type on a white background and retained the suggestion that manufacturers should use at least 8 point font size for essential information, especially when safety is concerned.

It also advised the use of an open font, a matt finish and an increased printing area.

"One of consumers' concerns about labelling is whether they can easily find the information they feel they need.

"The FSA's revised guidance encourages food manufacturers to provide information in a way that is clear and legible," said Stephen Pugh, head of the Food Labelling Branch at the Food Standards Agency.

The FSA consulted more than 1200 stakeholders' organisations about the labelling guidance it issued in 2002.

* Last week, the Local Government Association (LGA) called for increased use of "clear, visible and easy-to-understand" nutritional information, such as the traffic light system that has been adopted by many retailers and brands.

LGA spokesman Nick Mann said "good progress had been made" on rolling out labels, but there were still areas, such as alcoholic drinks, restaurants and takeaways that still needed to have ingredients "properly labelled".

However, research by insurance firm Standard Life Healthcare found that one in three consumers ignore nutritional information on food packaging.

It found that 36% of men and 22% of women did not look at information about the quantities of proteins, fats and sugars, for example, contained in portions of food.

Standard Life Heathcare said consumers focussed on information that was "typically of interest to their generation".