Table 1.

International and U.S.-based FOP Policies and Labeling Schemes

Country or Entity/ Name of FOPS/foods	Proposing Entity/Nutrition Disclosed	Nutrient-Specific Data; Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator; Evaluative Summary Indicator; Hybrid	Image
Australia and New Zealand Health Star Rating FOP: Packaged foods (not designed for single ingredient or non-nutritive foods (e.g. coffee) Voluntary	Government developed (Australian, state and territory governments) in collaboration with industry, public health and consumer groups Number of stars is determined to assess positive and risk nutrients in food including four aspects of a food associated with risk of chronic diseases: energy, saturated fat, sodium and total sugars content. Certain 'positive' aspects of a food such as fruit, vegetable, nut and legume content, and in some instances, dietary fibre and protein content are also considered. Factual: energy plus required nutrients: saturated fat, sugars and sodium per 100g; one optional positive nutrient: protein, dietary fibre, certain vitamins or minerals	Hybrid: Evaluative Summary Indicator (gradation of positive), Nutrient-Specific Data
Belgium, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Nigeria, Slovakia: Choices Programme, Healthy Choice Logo FOP: Applicable to all foods and beverages for persons > 1years Voluntary	Industry initiated; EU approved for use Nutrition criteria based on saturated fat (g), trans fat (g), sodium (mg), added sugar (g), dietary fibre (mg); calories for some foods	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)
Brunei “Healthier Choice Symbol” FOP: food and beverages Voluntary	Government developed (Ministry of Health) Demonstrates the product meets a certain set of nutrient criteria resembling that of Singapore’s nutrition guidelines Manufacturers that wish to use the symbol must apply, application includes a food analysis report completed by an accredited food testing laboratory	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)
Chile Excess Warning Label FOP: All foods and beverages but mostly packaged food Mandatory	Government developed Black octagon warning on the front of package stating "High in" calories (kcal), saturated fat (g), sodium (mg) and sugars (g).	Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (negative only)
Ecuador Traffic Light Food Labeling System FOP: Applies to processed foods Mandatory	Sugar, fat, salt Labeling consists of a traffic light: red for products high in these values; yellow for medium values, and green for low values.	Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (positive and negative)
Fiji / Solomon Islands On-Shelf Labeling Requirement: canned meat Mandatory	Part of The Food and Safety Act 2009 in Fiji and the Pure food Regulations 2009 in Solomon Islands For canned lunch meat, canned meat that has more than 20% fat, all minced meats and sausages sold unpackaged	Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (negative only)	“This brand of canned luncheon meat/canned meat with (name of the other food) is high in fat. For a healthy diet eat less.”
Finland Heart Symbol FOP: Nine food groups Voluntary: food companies apply for right to use symbol	Nonprofit Energy, Fat, sodium, sugar, fiber	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)	(Better Choices)
Finland High Salt Content Warning FOP: High salt foods Mandatory	Government created High salt food	Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (negative only)	“High Salt Content”
France NutriScore Label FOP: food and beverages Voluntary	Based on UK Food Standards Agency Model Classified food or beverage on a 5-point scale Dark green to dark red For every 100g – tells if nutrient content should be accepted or limited	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive and negative)
Iran Traffic Light Label FOP Mandatory for all industrial foods manufactured or imported to Iran NOT mandatory for traditional and outlet foods	In March 2015, the Iranian government introduced a new version of the Food and Beverages labelling regulation. It displays individual information on the fat, sugar, salt, trans fatty acids and energy content of the product Green indicates low or a little amount of the corresponding nutritional risk factor; Yellow indicates a moderate amount; Red shows a high amount, with thresholds set for each colour.	Hybrid Nutrient-Specific Data Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (positive and negative)
Malaysia “Healthier Choice Logo” FOP: food and beverages Voluntary	Minister of Health of Malaysia Healthier choice logo for food and beverages Indicate the product met a set of nutrient criteria for 42 sub-categories of food and beverages	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)
Mexico Guideline daily amount labeling (GDA) FOP: pre-packaged foods and nonalcoholic beverages: cereals, flavoured beverages, dairy, dressings, processed fruits, vegetables, legumes, meat, poultry, fish, ready-made dishes, chocolate, candy, desserts and miscellaneous (ice cream, marmalade, oil). Herbs and Spices, vinegar, food and beverages with less than 1% of recommended daily amounts or bulk sale products are exempt from the label. Mandatory	Mexican Federal Commission of Sanitary Risk Prevention Labels must be listed in Spanish and include, in this order: 1) Saturated fat (Grasa saturada) 2) Other fats (Otras grasas) 3) Total sugars (Azucares totales) 4) Sodium (sodio) 5) Energy (Energía) -either per serving or per package, or both. Expressed in kilocalories or calories and in percentages of recommended daily amounts, as well as the sodium content expressed in milligrams or grams and in percentages of recommended daily amounts. Saturated fat, other fats, total sugars, sodium, energy (per serving and per pack) are included using a Guideline Daily Amounts format.	Nutrient-Specific Data
Nigeria Heart Check FOP: No restriction on food groups Voluntary	Non-profit NGO developed Food company applies; foods tested Criteria: added sugar, sodium, fat, dietary fibre; trans fat and cholesterol for certain products (e.g., oils) Certifies health and heart friendly	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)
Philippines “Wise Eat” FOP: Front of package Voluntary	To get an Wise Eat Symbol, food must meet all nutrition criteria: <5g / 100 kcal <5g/ 100 kcal <134mg / 100kcal <16.7mg / 100kcal and at least one additional criteria based on Codex: Fat 3g /100g; 1.5g/100ml Saturated Fat 1.5g / 100g solids; 0.75g/100ml;equal to less than 10% of calorie content Cholesterol 0.02g/100g; 0.01g/100ml; equal to or less than 0.005g/100g Sodium Equal to less than 0.12g(Low), 0.04g (Very Low) or 0.005g (Free) / 100 g Sugars Equal to or less than 5g /100 g or 2.5g/100ml (Low) or 0.5g/100g or 0.5g/100ml (Free)	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)
Philippines Energy logo FOP: Front of package Voluntary	GDA FOP is based on calorie content of the food computed as % energy based on recommended energy nutrient intake (RENI) / the equivalent Philippine RDA	Nutrient-Specific Data
Singapore Healthier Choice Symbol FOP: All prepackaged food and beverages Voluntary (via application process)	Government developed (the Health Promotion Board is a government organization) Depending on the food, the following criteria are considered: calories, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, total sugar, whole grain content, calcium, cholesterol Healthier Choice Symbol may be used in conjunction with the following nutrient claims: Higher in Whole-grains, Low Glycemic Index, Lower in Sugar, No Added Sugar, Higher in Calcium, Lower in Sodium, No Sodium Added, Lower in Saturated Fat, Lower in Cholesterol, and Trans Fat Free.	Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (positive only)	Singapore Health Promotion Board Eat all Foods in Moderation
Slovenia “Little Heart” logo (formerly Protective Food symbol or Protects Health Label) FOP for pre-packaged food and menus Voluntary	Government oversees (Slovenian Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food) Slovenian Heart Foundation created the logo Demonstrates food complies with the standard defined by the World Health Organization and later by »Regulation No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on nutrition and health claims made on foods« Underneath the heart symbol, the specific nutritional properties are listed that the product meets (e.g., low fat content, rich in fibre) and which make it a healthier choice compared with other food products in the same category. Food products eligible for receiving the heart label based on the content of fat, omega-3 fatty acids, mono- and polyunsaturated fat, salt, sugar, as well as the energy value of a food product and sufficient quantity of nutritional fibres. Below the symbol of the heart, the properties should be enumerated on the basis of which the food product has acquired this symbol (e.g. like below, olive oil: due to its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids).	Hybrid: Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only) Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (positive only)	(Clear image with interpretive nutrient-specific summary indicator not available)
South Korea Traffic Light Sign FOP children’s preferred food products Voluntary	Government developed Total sugar, fat, saturated fat, sodium red means high, amber means medium, green means low	Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (positive and negative)
Sri Lanka Traffic Lights FOP: Beverages Mandatory	Ministry of Health Beverages that contain > 11g of sugar per 100 ml = red Beverages that contain 2-11g sugar = yellow Beverages that contain < 2g of sugar = green	Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (positive and negative)
Swedish National Food Agency’s Keyhole Symbol Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland FOP: 25 food product groups for people > 36 months Voluntary; if meet regulatory requirements	Government developed Standards for low fat, healthier fat, low sugar, low salt, high fibre, whole grain	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)
Thailand Guideline Daily Allowance FOP Snack foods Mandatory	Government developed Energy (Kcal), sugar (g), fat (g), sodium (mg) Percent maximum daily intake	Nutrient-Specific Data
Thailand “Healthier Choice Logo” FOP: beverages, sauces, condiments, dairy products, ready-to-eat meals, instant snacks Voluntary	Owned by the Thai Food and Drug Administration To be eligible for the logo, fish sauce must not contain more than 6g of sodium per 100ml, and soy sauce not more than 5g sodium per 100ml. Beverages must not contain more than 6g of sugar per 100ml if they are sold in single-serving containers; in beverages sold in containers that exceed 150% of a single serving, sugar must not exceed 18g per container. All other food must not exceed 500kcal and has to reach at least 20 points out of an achievable 40 points on the required nutrient content. The point system contains minimum and maximum levels of total fat, saturated fat, total sugar, protein, sodium, calcium fibre and iron in six categories, ranging from 0 (worst) to 5 (best).	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)
United Arab Emirates Weqaya logo (“weqaya” means prevention in Arabic) FOP: food and beverages Voluntary	Health Authority Abu Dhabi Products must adhere to maximum levels of calories, total fat, saturated and trans fat, sodium, added, total and naturally occurring sugars, and cholesterol; they may not be deep fried or contain artificial sweeteners and flavours. Flour, rice and grain-based products must contain minimum amounts of whole grains and fibre to be permitted to bear the logo. The only beverages allowed under the programme are unsweetened 100% vegetable juices, and unsweetened low fat milk and other fermented dairy products.	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)
United Kingdom and EU Regulation Traffic Light label FOP Pre-packaged food with exceptions Voluntary	Government developed Energy (Kcal), fat (g), saturated fat(g), sugar (g), salt (g) % adult's daily reference intakes red means high, amber means medium, green means low	Hybrid Nutrient-Specific Data Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (positive and negative)
United States American Heart Association Heart-Check Food Certification Program FOP, sign, shelf tag, and menu labeling Food: The Heart-Check program has 10 different categories of food certification for people > 2 years Voluntary	Nonprofit organization Food companies apply to be certified total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, and beneficial nutrients (vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein, or dietary fiber)	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)
United States Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Facts Up Front FOP All pre-packaged foods and beverages Voluntary	Food trade association and marketing organization developed Required: calories, saturated fat, sodium sugar; two optional ones: which include: fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals (if >10% of DV and meet FDA “good source” requirement for a nutrient content claim.	Nutrient-Specific Data
United States Hannaford Guiding Stars Shelf tags All foods except Infant formula and medical foods. Supermarkets voluntarily adopt system	Food retailer developed Nutrition: algorithm includes as nutrients to encourage: vitamins, minerals, fiber, whole grains, omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids (for fats and oils only); and nutrients to limit: trans fat, saturated fat, added sodium, and added sugars. Foods with excessive amounts of dietary cholesterol (>300mg/100 cal) are disqualified from earning a star rating, regardless of the presence of nutrients to encourage. There are four separate algorithms are used to generate the ratings – 1) general foods and beverages, 2) meats/poultry/seafood/dairy/nuts, 3) fats and oils, and 4) infant and toddler foods.	Evaluative Summary Indicator (gradation of positive)
United States Institute of Medicine All food Food labels and shelf tag for bulk foods Not adopted	Nonprofit, non-governmental organization calorie content per serving stars or checks for: saturated and trans fats, sodium, and added sugars	Interpretive Nutrient-Specific Summary Indicator (gradation of positive)
United States NuVal Nutritional Scoring System Shelf tag All foods Voluntary (discontinued)	Nutrition and medical experts from leading universities and health organizations based on Institute of Medicine’s Dietary Reference Intakes and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans >30 nutrient/nutrition factors for a patent-pending algorithm which converts nutritional information into a score.	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive and negative)
United States Walmart Great for you Front-of-package labeling, shelf tag, and sign Self-used on fresh produce and Walmart’s Great Value and Marketside brands	Food Industry developed Can earn label in two ways: Approved if single food item: fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, low-fat dairy, nuts and seeds and lean meats. If contains these and also meets step two limits on total fat, trans fat, saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars	Evaluative Summary Indicator (positive only)