Vox Pop: How much do you want to know about your food?

Do you think that the traffic light system of food labelling provides useful information?

James Crookshank, 33, Trainee plumber

I think initially if you are not inquisitive enough to read into what those numbers really mean, it can be a bit of a shocker. I don’t think it gives you a full and clear picture of what the item contains, but I do use them, and I do think they create awareness, though I am not sure if it is the best system

Rose Cheney, 23, Singer

I think that you can misread them, like sat fats are good to a certain extent, in moderation, so I think looking at a packet and thinking “that’s red, that’s red, that’s green” I don’t think all the greens are good. You might be missing out on other nutrients that you need. 

Annemarie Lawrence, 35, Community Development Worker.

I think it is useful information, but it does depend on what is your radar. If it is on your radar to me more healthy, then it can influence you positively or negatively,depending on how accurate the information is.

Luke Hickin, 21, Student,

I tend not to buy things if it’s all in the red because they do scare me, because I am very conscious of my health. Everyone’s body is different so when they say RDA you can’t really what your body is compared to someone else’s. if you go to
the gym a lot and do lots of exercise, who knows what your RDA is?

Isha-Sue Slevin, 45, Carer

I think with all the additives they are putting in foods, and everything that is being added it’s a bit silly even bothering with the nutritional information because there is so much dodgy stuff going on with all sorts of chemicals going into food.

Stephen Wells, 21, Shop Assistant.

Personally I think it’s a very good idea particularly on things such as fruit juices, because you don’t realize that something you are consuming that you thought was healthy was so full of sugar and informs you that it’s not healthy at all.