Food labelling

We're campaigning for food labels that are clear, comprehensive and accurate, so consumers can make informed decisions about what they eat.

Our shopping trawls have revealed a vast array of food labels which are misleading and confusing to consumers. The campaign has prompted manufacturers to make wide-scale changes to labels - one withdrew a label within an hour of being named and shamed.

Nutrition labelling – traffic lights

We think a consistent, easily understood labelling system is vital to help shoppers make healthy choices. We’re extremely disappointed that the European Commission has recommended a labelling system for food packaging based on Guideline Daily Amounts without traffic light colours. Find out more about why we think traffic light labelling is the best for consumers.

EU food labelling review

The EU is undertaking a major review of food labelling legislation. Which? will be fighting to ensure that useful information is not removed from labels, that labels are made clearer and that information gaps, such as country of origin, are addressed.

Ingredients and allergen labelling

Which? successfully campaigned for full ingredients and allergen labelling on pre-packaged foods. We're still calling for this to become a legal requirement for alcoholic drinks.

GM labelling

In April 2004, Which? won its battle to have products with GM derivatives (eg soya oil) labelled. This means that even if an end product doesn't contain GM material but some has been used in the manufacturing process, the product will still have to be labelled as containing GM.

Meat labelling

Four in five people (81 per cent) have told Which? they would be concerned if information about ingredients added to meat products was removed from the name of the food, but this valuable information could be under threat.

At present meat products that look like cuts, slices and joints of meat must clearly state what ingredients have been added to bulk up the product. Without this information it would be far more difficult to work out from the packet whether you're paying for ham that's been bulked up with water, starch or protein.

However, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is looking at simplifying meat labelling, which could threaten this information. Which? is lobbying the FSA to ensure that in simplifying regulation it does not undermine consumer protection.