Front-of-pack labelling reform - Is it fit for the future?

Euractiv Events

One aspect of the European Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy, aimed at a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system, is to combat negative health impacts. As part of this, new technologies and scientific discoveries, combined with increasing public awareness and demand for sustainable food, are employed to put food systems on a sustainable path and strengthen citizen access to nutritious and sustainable food.

Technological advances and digital tools can also provide support when it comes to consumer choice. Algorithms could suggest tailored options to consumers based on health profiling and consumer history, genetic research and health data. To facilitate this, and prepare our societies for the future, some stakeholders argue that the front-of-pack nutritional label currently being reviewed by the European Commission needs to take a different, more progressive approach.

They claim that the current use of different front-of-pack schemes in the internal market could result in additional costs for businesses, consumer confusion and a lack of trust. To avoid this, a common approach amongst Member States has been proposed. They want legislation to be updated to take account of how our future diets are likely to look.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out the opportunities and challenges facing the EU regarding front-of-pack labelling. Is there scope for a future where our smart devices and AI provide us with all the relevant information we need to eat or purchase based on our personal data? What steps need to be taken in this direction? And how can citizens be provided with the necessary information to make the right nutritional choices, especially those with health deficiencies?