One of the main roles of food labeling is to help consumers to make informed and possibly healthy food choices. To this aim, the labeling of most prepacked foods reports information, both mandatory - such as the list of ingredients and the nutrition declarations (Reg. (EU) n.1169/2011) – and voluntary, such as nutrition and health claims (Reg. (CE) n.1924/2006). Furthermore, in agreement with the Reg. (EU) n. 1169/2011, many European countries have developed proposals for “front-of-pack” (FOP) food labeling, intended as an integration to the nutritional information in the principal field of vision on food and drinks packaging.
Different schemes have been proposed, ranging from nutrient-specific labels (e.g., Reference Intake labels, NutrInform battery) to summary labels (e.g., Keyhole, Nutri-Score). Some of them are already in use in some countries, also outside Europe where additional FOP schemes have been developed.
In the last years, several studies have been published, also with the intention to better comprehend the acceptance, understanding of consumers to some FOP schemes, to estimate possible effects of FOP implementation on food purchases, food habits and in turn health, and to investigate the possible impact on food reformulation.
Based on the European strategic program “Farm to Fork”, the intention is to achieve a harmonized FOP label proposal to enable consumers to make healthy and conscious food choices by the end of 2022. To reach this objective, there is still a strong need for a scientific debate on this topic for a better understanding of the possible impact of FOP in fostering the transition towards more healthy and sustainable dietary patterns to reduce the burden of obesity and related degenerative diseases.
The aim of this Research Topic is therefore to provide a platform for science-based discussion about front-of-pack labeling which represents one of the most debated topics in public health and nutrition fields. This Research Topic welcomes:
• Scientific opinion of stakeholders and nutrition/scientifical societies on the different FOP proposals
• Consumer acceptance and understanding of FOP
• Effects of FOP on consumer behavior
• Effects of FOP on food reformulation and innovation
• FOP and biomarkers of nutrition, function and health
It is our hope that this Research Topic will foster the scientific debate on the FOP and bring a better understanding of how FOP labeling can help people to make informed food choices and the food industry to provide those choices to the consumer.
One of the main roles of food labeling is to help consumers to make informed and possibly healthy food choices. To this aim, the labeling of most prepacked foods reports information, both mandatory - such as the list of ingredients and the nutrition declarations (Reg. (EU) n.1169/2011) – and voluntary, such as nutrition and health claims (Reg. (CE) n.1924/2006). Furthermore, in agreement with the Reg. (EU) n. 1169/2011, many European countries have developed proposals for “front-of-pack” (FOP) food labeling, intended as an integration to the nutritional information in the principal field of vision on food and drinks packaging.
Different schemes have been proposed, ranging from nutrient-specific labels (e.g., Reference Intake labels, NutrInform battery) to summary labels (e.g., Keyhole, Nutri-Score). Some of them are already in use in some countries, also outside Europe where additional FOP schemes have been developed.
In the last years, several studies have been published, also with the intention to better comprehend the acceptance, understanding of consumers to some FOP schemes, to estimate possible effects of FOP implementation on food purchases, food habits and in turn health, and to investigate the possible impact on food reformulation.
Based on the European strategic program “Farm to Fork”, the intention is to achieve a harmonized FOP label proposal to enable consumers to make healthy and conscious food choices by the end of 2022. To reach this objective, there is still a strong need for a scientific debate on this topic for a better understanding of the possible impact of FOP in fostering the transition towards more healthy and sustainable dietary patterns to reduce the burden of obesity and related degenerative diseases.
The aim of this Research Topic is therefore to provide a platform for science-based discussion about front-of-pack labeling which represents one of the most debated topics in public health and nutrition fields. This Research Topic welcomes:
• Scientific opinion of stakeholders and nutrition/scientifical societies on the different FOP proposals
• Consumer acceptance and understanding of FOP
• Effects of FOP on consumer behavior
• Effects of FOP on food reformulation and innovation
• FOP and biomarkers of nutrition, function and health
It is our hope that this Research Topic will foster the scientific debate on the FOP and bring a better understanding of how FOP labeling can help people to make informed food choices and the food industry to provide those choices to the consumer.
