Manual to develop and implement front‑of‑pack nutrition labelling: appendix
Overview
This is the appendix to the Manual to develop and implement front‑of‑pack nutrition labelling. Front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPL), and more specifically interpretative FOPL providing simplified nutritional information in the form of symbols, colours or words, is seen as a cost-effective measure to help consumers understand the nutritional quality of foods, and orient them towards healthier food choices at the point of purchase.
WHO recommends the implementation of FOPL as one of the ‘best-buy’ measures to help prevent NCDs. FOPL aligns with the policy tools recommended in the WHO European Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2015–2020 to create healthier food environments.
Some countries in the WHO European region have implemented FOPL but this has taken different forms, with various degrees of interpretation of the nutritional composition of foods.
Research provides evidence as to the
effectiveness of the various schemes, as well as a theoretical framework
for countries to use in order to develop or adapt a FOPL scheme that is
evidence-based and suited to the national context. In this context,
this manual was developed to provide guidance to countries wishing to
implement an effective FOPL scheme to support consumers to identify
healthier food choices.
