Thousands of obesity deaths 'could be halted with warning labels'

MORE than 100,000 obesity deaths could be prevented over 20 years if firms were forced to put nutrition warning labels on the front of food packs, experts have said.

- By JANE KIRBY

Researchers found that warning labels for foods high in fat, salt or sugar as implemented in several other countries could save lives across England and cut the number of overweight people.

In 2016, Chile was the first country to bring in a mandatory nutritional warning label law with food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar needing to display a black octagonal warning on the front of packs.

Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have introduced similar changes.

In the UK, while it is mandatory for nutrition information to be displayed on the back of all food packaging, putting any details on the front, such as the traffic light system, is voluntary.

Amanda Daley, professor of behavioural medicine at Loughborough University, said: “We need effective public health interventions to reduce the number of deaths related to people living with obesity and mandatory warning labels on food may be one way to achieve this.

“Importantly, we need the food industry to play their part in helping people to make informed decisions about the food they purchase and consume.