A health organisation in the US has called for clearer printed labels to be added to packaged food.
According to the Institute of Medicine (IM), a "fundamental shift in strategy" is needed so that people benefit from improved access to accurate nutritional information, as well as direct encouragement to eat more healthily.
Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, Mary Story, public health professor at the University of Minnesota and member of the IM, said: "People are so busy and there are so many products to choose from. If there is a system that could very quickly, almost instantly, identify which foods are healthier in terms of reducing chronic disease risk for children and adults, it could really help."
The IM proposes applying a printed label to every item of food that gives the product a star rating. Those high in sugar, salt and saturated fats would get a zero-star rating, while healthier foods would be given more stars.
Recent research published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that consumers do not read printed labels on food in their entirety.
Denny Bros Ltd, 26th October 2011
