Following TITAN’s participation in the Food Revolution Conference (21–23 October 2024, Parma, Italy), a paper has been published in the AFFIDIA Journal. The article is based on the oral presentation delivered by Edward Sliwinski from our partner EFFoST and explores how front-of-pack labelling can empower consumers to make healthier and more sustainable food choices.
Summary of the paper
The overconsumption of foods and drinks high in fats (including saturated and trans fats), sugars (both added and refined), and sodium is strongly linked to higher risks of obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Without effective policy measures to improve the food environment, these health challenges will continue to rise worldwide. In addition, today’s food system contributes to a range of environmental problems, including climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and pollution.
One evidence-based strategy to address these issues is the introduction of front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition and sustainability labels. These labels can guide consumers toward healthier, more sustainable choices while also motivating the food industry to improve both the nutritional quality of products and the sustainability of production processes.
Although different FOP labels are used internationally, research shows that the most effective ones share certain features: they are mandatory, built on scientifically validated nutrition or environmental profiling systems, easy to understand and clearly visible, and interpretive—providing guidance to consumers rather than simply listing nutrition information without context.
The introduction of life cycle assessment (LCA)-based ecolabelling for all food products could be a game changer in driving sustainability across the sector. Such labels would not only support consumers in choosing more sustainable options but also create strong business cases and incentives for producers to improve the environmental performance of their products.
To access the full paper, please refer to the TITAN publications site here. To access the full AFFIDIA FoodRevolution 2024 Proceedings report you can register and download it here.
English