Food companies may have to make the part of their printed labels displaying calorie information simpler after a poll found many consumers do not understand it.
Research carried out by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) showed that two out of three people underestimate the energy content of foods like houmous and light mayonnaise.
For example, only 32 per cent thought houmous was high in calories and 29 per cent agreed that light mayonnaise was in the same category, despite the fact that both foodstuffs contain more than 250 calories per 100g.
Meanwhile, some shoppers thought bananas were high-calorie foods.
The WCRF's Maya Monteiro said the results are worrying because being overweight is linked to cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
She added: "The study also highlights the importance of having a system of food labelling that is both easy to understand and widely used."
In November 2011, a poll by CLIF Kid found that 42 per cent of parents find nutrition labels confusing.
Denny Bros Ltd, 04 January 2012
