Traffic light labeling of food may become mandatory

The Social Council at the Federal Service for the Supervision of Consumer Rights (Rospotrebnadzor) is working on the issue of mandatory traffic light labelling of certain types of food products.

Red, green, yellow - colors for marking food

In 2018, traffic light color coding was introduced in Russia. Enterprises producing food products could use it on a voluntary basis, placing special graphics on the packaging of food products in green, yellow or red. Labelling in this way was not compulsory. It is worth knowing that a given color is assigned to a product depending on the content of salt, sugar and fats in it, and taking into account the daily consumption of these substances.

Mandatory traffic light labelling 

Rospotrebnadzor proposed mandatory labeling of red food products with an excess of salt, sugar or fat, and green color of products with normal content. This labelling may be placed on the packaging or directly on the price lists of products in stores (both offline and online).

Why is this type of labelling important?

The implementation of the product color labelling system is to help consumers in choosing healthy, wholesome food products without the need to carefully read labels and analyze their ingredients. In the 21st century, we are struggling with an epidemic of obesity and junk food, so people should pay more attention to the quality of consumed products. After all, not everyone has the time and appropriate dietary knowledge, which is why Rospotrebnadzor plans to implement such labeling. It's a simple way to help consumers make the right food choices.