2013年6月25日 星期二

BBC新聞:英國即將導入新的食品標示制度


Food labelling: Consistent system to be rolled out
食品標示:即將導入新的食品標示制度

A new consistent system of front-of-pack food labelling is to be introduced in the UK, the government says.
政府官員指出,英國即將導入嶄新且一致性的食品標示制度。







A combination of colour coding and nutritional information will be used to show how much fat, salt and sugar and how many calories are in each product.
此系統結合了顏色編碼及營養成分,可同時以顏色及文字資訊判讀每份產品含有多少脂肪、鹽、糖及卡路里。

But as yet only just over 60% of foods will be covered by the system because it will remain voluntary.
然而此系統仍屬於自發性質,將只有涵蓋百分之六十的陳列商品使用此標示制度。

The announcement comes after a decade of debate about the issue and has been welcomed by consumer groups.
這個議題經過十年的辯論才得到結論並受到消費者團體的歡迎。

The introduction of a consistent system has proved problematic partly because of the difficulty of getting industry leaders to agree on the labels and because mandatory regulations require agreement on a European level.
導入此系統突顯了部份難處,包括取得產業領袖的共識及符合歐盟的強制性規章。

The problems have resulted in a variety of different systems being introduced.
爭議的過程甚至導致了更多不同標示系統的生成。

The unveiling of new labels comes after a public consultation last year and months of talks with the food industry.
新的標示制度經過數個月食品產業界的討論及公眾諮詢終於得到揭示。

The deal has been welcomed by campaigners, who have argued a clear and consistent system of food labelling would help combat obesity.
此計劃得到社會運動家的支持,她們主張一個清楚且一致的食品標示系統或許可以幫助對抗肥胖。

One of the key steps has been the inclusion of colour coding.
關鍵的步驟之一就是標示採用了顏色編碼。

Research by the Food Standards Agency has shown that consumers prefer traffic light labelling because it offers key information "at a glance".
食品標準機構的研究證實消費者偏好顏色區隔的標示,因其可一目了然關鍵的資訊。

Over the next 18 months the new labels will be rolled out across many of the major food groups.
在未來的一年半中,新的標示系統將會擴及許多主要的食品集團。

They include retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, the Co-operative and Waitrose, which will display the labels on their own brand foods, as well as manufacturers Mars, Nestle, PepsiCo and Premier Foods.
包括Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, the Co-operative and Waitrose等零售商將會使用新的標示系統在自有品牌食品。此外,Mars, Nestle, PepsiCo and Premier Foods等製造商也會比照辦理。

'Big step forward'
重要的進展
Public health minister Anna Soubry said: "By having all the major retailers and manufacturers signed up to the consistent label, we will all be able to see at a glance what is in our food - this is why I want to see more manufacturers signing up and using the label."
英國公共衛生部長Anna Soubry提到「當越來越多零售商及製造商簽署一致性標示系統,我們將更容易知道食品的資訊,這也是為什麼我希望更多製造商加入簽署」。

Richard Lloyd, of consumer group Which?, said it was a "big step forward".
消費者團體代表Richard Lloyd指出「這是重要的進展」。

Charlie Powell, director of the Children's Food Campaign, also said the move was pleasing.
兒童食品推廣團體負責人Charlie Powell表示「這個行動令人愉悅」。

But he added: "There are now no excuses - all food companies should follow suit and the government should name and shame any which drag their feet."
他也提及「所有食品公司已經沒有理由不去遵循此一規則,而政府則應該列舉那些不願配合的業者,並為他們感到羞恥」。

He also urged ministers to do more to protect children from junk food marketing.
同時,他力促各相關部門部長致力於保護兒童不受垃圾食品廣告的影響。

Among the major names not to have signed up are Coca-Cola and Cadbury - both of which released statements saying they felt the use of guideline daily amounts was a better system.
不願簽署一致性標示系統的主要公司包括Coca-Cola及Cadbury。他們透過聲明表示每日建議攝取量的營養標示才是較佳的系統。

Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium said of the new labels: "This is great news for consumers. A consistent scheme across all the major supermarkets means wherever we shop we will see the same front-of-pack labelling. That will help improve understanding of the label and make healthier choices easier."
服務於英國零售協會的Andrew Opie評論「新的一致性標示系統對消費者來說是好消息。一致性的標示機制代表無論我們到哪家商店都可看見相同標示方法的產品」。這絕對能改善消費者對營養標示的認知並提供更簡單、更健康的選擇。

原文:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22959239