Table 2.
Characteristics of the front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling schemes introduced globally
Type | Name/Symbol | Display | Countries | Mandatory | Nutrients included | Ingredients included | Limits | Units |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Logo | Keyhole![]() |
Logo | Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Lithuania | No | Saturated fat, total sugar, sodium | Fibre | Nutrient criteria for 25 different food groups | 100 g/ml |
Logo | Choices Programme![]() |
Logo | Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Mexico | No | Saturated fat, trans fatty acids, added sugar, sodium, energy | Fibre | The international criteria are the blueprint for national criteria; there are 9 basic and 6 non basic product groups with nutrient criteria | 100 g/ml or per serving (for energy) |
Logo | Healthier Choices![]() |
Logo | Singapore | No | Total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, total sugar, calcium | Fibre, wholegrain | Nutrient criteria exist for >60 sub categories of foods and beverages. At least 20 or 25% more or less of the nutrient/ingredient needed. | % Limits |
Logo | Healthier Choices![]() |
Logo | Thailand | No | Sodium, total sugar, energy, total fat, saturated fat, protein, calcium, iron | Fibre | Beverages, sauces and condiments, dairy products, ready meals, instant food and snacks. Point system in six categories from worst (0) to best (5) | 100 g/ml and per serving |
Logo | Healthier Choices![]() |
Logo | Brunei | No | Total fat, saturated fat, sodium, sugar, calcium | Fibre | Nutrient criteria exist for >60 sub categories of foods and beverages | 100 g/ml |
Logo | Healthier Choices Symbol not given since not finalized | Logo | Malaysia | No | Total fat, sugar, sodium, trans fat, energy | Fibre | Nutrient criteria exist for 42 sub categories of foods and beverages | 100 g/ml |
Logo | 25% reduced logo![]() |
Logo | Thailand | No | Sugar, fat, sodium | None | 25% lower sugar, fat and/or sodium after reformulation | % Limits |
Traffic lights | Traffic lights![]() |
Red/Amber/Green for each critical nutrient | South Korea | No | Total fat, saturated fat, total sugar, sodium | None | For certain children’s foods like snacks: fat (low <3 g, medium 3-9 g, high >9 g); saturated fat (low <1.5 g, 1.5-4 g, >4 g), sodium (low <120 mg, medium 120-300 mg, high >300 mg), sugar (low <3 g, medium 3-17 g, high >17 g) | Per serving of stated size |
Traffic lights | Traffic lights![]() |
Red/Amber/Green for each critical nutrient | UK | No | Energy, fat, saturated fat, total sugar, salt | None | Fat (low: ≤3.0 g/100 g; medium: >3.0 g to ≤17.5 g/100 g; high: >17.5 g/100 g) Saturated fat (low: ≤1.5 g/100 g; medium: >1.5 g to ≤5.0 g/100 g; high: >5.0 g/100 g) total sugar (low: ≤5.0 g/100 g; medium: >5.0 g to ≤22.5 g /100 g; high: >22.5 g/100 g) salt (low: ≤0.3 g/100 g; medium: >0.3 g to ≤1.5 g/100 g; high: >1.5 g/100 g) | 100 g/ml |
Traffic lights | Traffic lights![]() |
Red/Amber/Green for each critical nutrient | Ecuador | Yes | Fats, sugar, salt | None | Total fat (low: ≤3 g/100 g or 1.5 g/100 ml; medium: >3 and <20 g/100 g or >1.5 and <10 g/100 ml; high (≥20 g/100 g or≥10 g/100 ml) Total sugars (low: ≤5 g/100 g or 2.5 g/100 ml; medium: >5 and <15 g/100 g or >2.5 and <7.5 g/100 g; high (≥15 g/100 g or≥7.5 g/100 ml) Sodium (low: ≤120 mg/100 g/ml; medium: >120 and <600 mg/100 g/ml; high (≥600 mg/100 g/ml) | 100 g/ml |
Summary system | Health Star Ratings![]() |
½ star (least healthy) to 5 stars (most healthy) | Australia, New Zealand | No | Energy, saturated fat, sodium, total sugar, protein | Fibre, fruits and vegetables, nuts and legumes | Calculations of points for each of the nutrients of concern and ingredients | 100 g/ml |
Summary system | Nutriscore![]() |
A, B, C, D, E according to healthiness with A the most healthy | France | No | Energy, saturated fat, total sugar, sodium, proteins | Fibre, fruits and vegetables | Calculations of points for each of the nutrients of concern and ingredients | 100 g/ml |
Warning labels | Warning labels![]() |
Logo | Finland | Yes | Salt | None | Specified by food group; including all food groups that make a substantial contribution to salt intake in Finland, e.g. label required when ≥1.1% for bread, ≥2.0% for sausages, ≥2.2% for cold meat cuts, ≥2.0% for fish products, ≥1.4% for cheese, ≥1.2% for ready meals and ≥1.4% for breakfast cereals or crisp bread. | % Limits |
Warning labels | Warning labels Symbol says “Should consume in small amounts and exercise for better health” | Text | Thailand | Yes | N/A | N/A | Including 5 categories of snack food | N/A |
Warning labels | Warning labels![]() |
Black warning label for each critical nutrient | Chile | Yes | Energy, saturated fat, sodium, total sugar | None | Current (not final) limits: calories (275/100 g or 70/100 ml); saturated fat (4 g/100 g or 3 g/100 ml); total sugar (10 g/100 g or 5 g/100 ml); sodium (400 mg/100 g or 100 mg/100 ml) | 100 g/ml |
Warning labels | Warning labels Symbol not given since not finalized | Red Warning label for each critical nutrient | Israel | Yes | Sodium, sugar, saturated fat | None | Sodium (>800 mg/100 g), total sugar (>22.5 g/100 g) and saturated fat (>6 g/100 g) | 100 g/ml |
Warning labels | Warning labels Symbol not given since not finalized | Black warning label for each critical | Canada | Yes | Saturated fat, total sugar, sodium | None | Sodium (>345 mg per serving size); saturated fat (>3 g per serving size); total sugar (>15 g per serving size) | Per serving of stated size |
Warning labels | Warning labels Symbol not given since not finalized | Octagonal format (like Chile) in red, white and black | Peru | Yes | Sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar | None | First (not final) limits: saturated fat (6 g/100 g or 3 g/100 ml); total sugar (22.5 g/100 g or 6g/100 ml); sodium (800 mg/100 g or 100 mg/100 ml); trans fats (pursuant to laws into force) | 100 g/ml |