Consultation launched on new health labelling for food packaging

The government has launched a new consultation on potential plans to introduce a new system of health labelling for food products sold in the UK.

UK health ministers are calling for the implementation of a uniform system through which all food manufacturers and retailers would provide information on fat, salt, sugar and calorie content on the front of packaging.

Research has shown that a consistent presentation of this information across all products would make it easier for consumers to compare the nutritional content of the food they purchase.

The aim of this scheme is to help people in the UK to eat more healthily, thus helping to reduce the prevalence of serious illnesses such as cancer and diabetes.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Offering a single nutrition labelling system makes common sense; it would help us all to make healthier choices and keep track of what we eat."

Currently, England has one of the highest rates of obesity in the developed world, with more than 60 percent of adults classed as overweight or obese.