Tesco red lights Government food labelling initiative

Tesco has rejected the traffic light food labelling system backed by the Government. The grocer intends to set up its own labelling system, after research suggested that its customers were confused by the traffic light system sponsored by the Food Standards Agency.

The traffic light system was launched to give guidance on salt, sugar and fat to customers. However, Tesco customers were confused about how to treat the amber light classification.

Tesco, which has about 30 per cent of the food retailing market, will put the content of salt, sugar, saturated fats and calories in grams, along with advice on suggested daily intake on its own-label products.