Nutrient warning labels could prevent 100,000+ obesity-related deaths

Researchers from the University of Liverpool, using the first modelled estimate to date shows how mandatory nutrition labelling could impact obesity prevalence and mortality in England's population, have found that making front-of-pack nutrition labelling mandatory could significantly reduce obesity rates and save thousands of lives across England.

Using a microsimulation model, the team examined the effects of introducing either mandatory traffic light or nutrient warning labels on packaged foods over a 20-year period (2024–2043). Effects were calculated from current evidence on the impact of the labels on (i) consumer food choices (eg, choosing healthier options) and (ii) reformulation of food products by the food industry (eg, making products healthier to avoid a negative label). The model simulated the life courses of adults aged 30–89 years across England under these policy scenarios, taking into account age, sex and deprivation levels.

"Our findings suggest that mandatory nutrient warning labels could deliver substantial health benefits for the population, reducing both obesity rates and related mortality,” said Dr Rebecca Evans, corresponding author of the study. “These results support current government discussions about alternative labelling approaches and provide robust evidence to guide future UK food labelling policy.”

Compared to current voluntary labelling, making traffic light labels mandatory was estimated to reduce obesity prevalence by 2.34 percentage points and prevent or postpone around 57,000 obesity-related deaths. However, implementing nutrient warning labels - similar to those used in Chile - was projected to have a greater impact, reducing obesity prevalence by 4.44 percentage points and preventing or postponing approximately 110,000 deaths.

According to the research, these benefits were observed consistently across different socioeconomic groups, suggesting that both types of labelling would be equitable public health interventions. The study highlights that while traffic light labels have been used voluntarily in the UK since 2013, a mandatory approach and particularly one adopting nutrient warning labels, could be far more effective in improving public health outcomes.

"Nutrition labels are a simple yet powerful tool. Making them mandatory could help people make healthier food choices and encourage the food industry to rethink what goes on our shelves, helping to prevent thousands of deaths linked to obesity,” added Dr Zoé Colombet, also an author on the study.

The findings were reported in the paper, ‘The estimated impact of mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling policies on adult obesity prevalence and obesity-related mortality in England: a modelling study’, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. To access this paper, please click here