Regulatory approaches to front-of-pack nutrition labelling

Even though nutrition labelling has been regulated by the EU since the 1990s, the tactics of industry, with the support of a minority of Member States, have prevented effective measures on front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FoPNL). In its Farm to Fork Strategy, the European Commission committed to introduce legislative proposals for harmonised front-of-pack nutrition labelling by the end of 2022. The deadline has passed and no indications appear of matters moving forward. This is even more concerning for public health as the current regulatory framework prohibits interpretive FoPNL, fails to guide Member States towards well-designed schemes, and prohibits schemes becoming mandatory.