EU Proposes New Simpler Food LabelsBy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- The European Commission proposed simplified food labels Wednesday highlighting fat, sugar and salt contents in an attempt to contain the spread of obesity and junk food in the 27-nation EU.
Under the proposals, six content elements will have to appear on packages: energy, total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugar and salts.
The labels, which must be clear enough so consumers can make quick decisions, will also indicate what percentage of advisable daily intake they represent.
''Consumers have to be able to make the right choice. They need the right information to plan their diet,'' EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said. ''The ultimate target is a healthy nutrition.''
The proposals exclude beer, wine and spirits, even though they can have a dramatic impact on health. Kyprianou said it would take another five years to produce a report on how the alcohol industry should regulate its labeling.
So-called alcopops, which mix fruit juice and soft drinks with alcohol, are included partly because they target the key market of teenage consumers.
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