Green Labeling Labeling of manufactured products informs customers and drives food processors to compete by improving the health value of their products. Consumers need to be able to understand what their food choices are doing to their bodies and the planet, so that they can make an informed decision. Food labeling today primarily covers nutrient-related information, but it is likely that environmental-impact indicators are on their way. As is illustrated in the Double Food Pyramid on page 107, beef stands out as having the highest CO2 production footprint. However, this CO2 is not usually a decision-making factor to which consumers can easily turn, as there is no reference to it on the packaging or menu. That has begun to change. For instance, the Swedish burger chain Max Burgers puts prominent CO2-footprint labeling on its menu items.
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Photo: The George Institute for Global Health, Xyris Sowtware, and Bupa
The George Institute for Global Health and health care group Bupa have developed a food app for Australia. With FoodSwitch on their smart phones, consumers can scan barcodes at the supermarket and receive quick comparative information about the health value of products. If the product isn’t featured, users can also snap a photo and send it to FoodSwitch to update the system. Since the app’s launch, the database grew from 15,000 to 50,000 logged products. Food processors now have extra impetus to accelerate “healthy competition,” and public health initiatives such as decreasing salt-levels in prepared foods are pushed forward. FoodSwitch has also been launched in New Zealand, and plans are well advanced for roll-outs in the United Kingdom, the US, and India.
Bupa. ‘FoodSwitch’. Dec 2010. Online: www.bupa.com.au
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