Third Sector
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Call for clearer food labelling
Diabetes UK, along with the British Heart Foundation, Children’s Food Campaign and Which?, has written to Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley calling for clear and easy-to-understand food labels to allow people to tell quickly and easily what’s in the food they’re buying.
The organisations have come together, ahead of an EU vote on 5 July, to urge that UK representatives call strongly for mandatory front-of-pack (FOP) labelling which includes information on energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.
Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as increasing the risk of developing several cancers. Unhealthy diets can lead to poor diabetes management and subsequently increase the risk of developing serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputation.
Empowered to make healthy choices
Stella Valerkou, Diabetes UK Senior Policy Officer, said, "Nutrition labelling helps people to understand the nutritional content of the food they are buying, and can empower them to make healthier food choices, helping to prevent Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Independent research shows that consumers value information about these nutrients on front of the pack, and information about all five is already displayed widely in the UK. Clear mandatory FOP food labelling is an important part of creating an environment which helps make healthy choices, easy choices."
