“Traffic Light” shows the nutrient composition of the Tesco Products

Tesco will launch ‘traffic light’ labels on its products in a major U-turn that marks a significant step towards the Department of Health’s goal of a common system of health labelling.

The UK’s largest supermarket chain will adopt a hybrid labelling system combining its existing Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA) with the traffic light colour coding system – a move it said followed new consumer research.

“Customers also want a consistent approach to labelling across the industry and Tesco is committed to working with the government, NGOs, public health organisations, other retailers and our supply chain to try to achieve this.”

Chief executive Philip Clarke added: “Tesco has led the way in giving shoppers clear information about the food they eat and was the first retailer to put nutritional information on the front of our packs in 2005, when we rolled out our Guideline Daily Amount labels.

(Consumers International, Világgazdaság Online)