Understanding the UK's Traffic Light System
The UK's front-of-pack food labelling system is a voluntary scheme endorsed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Department of Health and Social Care. It uses a simple, colour-coded design to highlight key nutritional information at a glance.
- Red: Signifies a high amount of a specific nutrient (fat, saturated fat, sugar, or salt). These foods should be consumed in smaller amounts or less often.
- Amber: Indicates a medium level of a nutrient. Foods with mostly amber lights can typically be eaten as part of a balanced diet.
- Green: Shows a low level of a nutrient. The more green lights a product has, the healthier the overall nutritional balance.
This system also displays the number of kilocalories and provides portion size information to help consumers make informed decisions.
Why the UK Opted for a Different System
The UK's traffic light system predates the wider European adoption of Nutri-Score and became the standard through voluntary adoption by major UK supermarkets and food manufacturers. Several factors explain why the UK did not switch to Nutri-Score.
Historical Context and EU Divergence
The Nutrient Profiling Model, which forms the basis for the Nutri-Score, was initially developed by UK academics for the FSA for regulating advertising to children. However, when Nutri-Score was developed in France, the UK was already committed to its own established traffic light system. The UK's departure from the European Union further solidified its independent regulatory approach to food labelling.
Consumer Preference and Industry Support
The traffic light system is well-established and recognised by the majority of UK consumers. Its voluntary nature allowed for widespread, rather than mandatory, adoption by retailers. While there have been debates and lobbying, the UK government has consistently supported its homegrown system.
Opposition to Nutri-Score
Some in the food industry and other countries have raised criticisms of Nutri-Score. The voluntary nature of the EU-wide adoption also faced resistance and political delay. Critics point out that Nutri-Score's single overall score can oversimplify a product's nutritional value, potentially penalising traditional foods based on a single metric.
Nutri-Score vs. UK Traffic Lights: A Comparison
Both front-of-pack labelling systems aim to help consumers make healthier choices, but they differ fundamentally in their presentation and approach.
| Feature | UK Traffic Light System | Nutri-Score System |
|---|---|---|
| Core Display | Provides individual red, amber, or green ratings for four nutrients: Fat, Saturates, Sugars, and Salt. | Assigns a single letter grade (A-E) and corresponding colour (dark green to dark orange) for the overall nutritional quality. |
| Evaluation Metric | Rates nutrients based on content per 100g/100ml. | Calculates an overall score based on both "negative" nutrients (energy, saturated fat, sugars, sodium) and "positive" nutrients (fibre, protein, fruit, vegetables, nuts). |
| Positives Recognised? | Does not explicitly reward positive nutrients on the front-of-pack display. | Actively rewards positive nutrients by deducting points from the overall score. |
| Flexibility | Allows for a nuanced view of a product, as it may be red for one nutrient but green for others. | Provides a single, simple score that can sometimes be less nuanced, such as with certain cheeses. |
| Use in UK | The widely adopted voluntary standard. | Not used by default, but some exporters or foreign products might feature it. |
Future of UK Food Labelling
The landscape of food labelling is constantly evolving. Ongoing debates about obesity and public health often involve discussions on the effectiveness of existing labelling. The UK government continues to review its food and nutrition policies, but for the foreseeable future, the traffic light system remains the dominant front-of-pack labelling method. The European Commission had plans for an EU-wide harmonised system, but this has stalled, leaving individual countries to pursue their chosen schemes. This means UK consumers will continue to see and rely on the familiar traffic light colours for their shopping decisions.
Conclusion
To answer the question, the UK does not use a Nutri-Score. Instead, it operates with a voluntary but widely adopted traffic light labelling system. While the Nutri-Score was ironically born from a UK-developed profiling model, the two systems have evolved along different paths. The traffic light system provides granular, nutrient-specific colour-coded information, while Nutri-Score offers a single, overall nutritional rating. Ultimately, both systems aim to help consumers make more informed choices, but the method for doing so differs significantly. For UK consumers, the established traffic light system will continue to be the primary visual guide on food packaging.
What is the Nutri-Score?
The Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack nutritional label used in several European countries that assigns a score from A (best nutritional quality) to E (worst) to a food product based on its nutritional content per 100g.
Why is Nutri-Score not used in the UK?
The UK has its own established voluntary food labelling system, the traffic light system, which has been widely adopted by major retailers. This system predates Nutri-Score's wider adoption, and the UK government has supported this domestic approach.
Is the UK traffic light system mandatory?
No, the UK traffic light system is voluntary. However, its widespread adoption by major supermarkets and manufacturers means it is a familiar sight for UK consumers.
What are the key differences between the Nutri-Score and the UK traffic light system?
Nutri-Score provides a single, overall score (A-E), while the UK traffic light system gives separate ratings (red, amber, or green) for fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt. The Nutri-Score also accounts for positive nutrients like fibre and protein.
Can I see a Nutri-Score on a product in a UK shop?
It is possible, but highly unlikely. Some products imported from countries that use Nutri-Score might feature the label, but it is not the standard system for UK-produced goods.
Does the UK traffic light system consider positive nutrients?
The front-of-pack traffic light system does not explicitly highlight positive nutrients like fibre or protein with a specific colour-coding. This information is typically found on the detailed nutritional table on the back of the packaging.
Has the UK ever considered using Nutri-Score?
During EU membership, a harmonised EU-wide system was considered, with Nutri-Score as a candidate, but this did not lead to adoption in the UK, which maintained its own system.
Do UK companies need to use Nutri-Score for exports?
UK companies exporting to countries where Nutri-Score is adopted or mandated may need to display the Nutri-Score label to comply with local regulations and compete effectively.
How does the FSA provide guidance on UK food labelling?
The Food Standards Agency provides detailed guidance for businesses on how to create a front-of-pack nutrition label that complies with the UK traffic light criteria.
Is the Nutri-Score based on UK research?
Yes, the Nutri-Score algorithm is based on a nutrient profiling system that was originally developed for the UK's Food Standards Agency by researchers at Oxford University.
Which system is better for consumers?
Both systems have their pros and cons. The UK traffic light system provides more granular information per nutrient, while Nutri-Score offers a quick overall summary. Consumer studies have shown differing levels of understanding and effectiveness for both systems.
