Yogurt with the letter E or A? Latvia proposes to label food healthiness directly in stores 0 22

An initiative has appeared on the portal Manabalss.lv regarding the introduction of special labeling in supermarkets that will indicate the healthiness or harm of products directly on price tags. Its author points out that Latvia ranks among the last places in the European Union in terms of life expectancy.

"One of the main reasons is chronic diseases: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. And the primary source of these diseases is unhealthy eating. As a result, almost 60% of the country's residents suffer from overweight or obesity, and this trend starts in childhood," writes Yuri Ivanov. According to him, this threatens not only the health of the population but also the economic stability of the state.

The author of the initiative believes that action needs to be taken urgently, as the government's plans are excessively delayed. "The Ministry of Health plans to complete a study on the most suitable labeling system only in the second half of 2028. While we wait, other European countries have long been successfully implementing additional food labeling systems," the appeal states.

Ivanov proposes a quick and inexpensive option that does not require any decisions from the European Union or voluntary steps from manufacturers. "We propose to require the largest chains — such as Rimi, Maxima, Lidl, and others — to indicate a unified product health index (for example, Nutri-Score with letters A, B, C, D, or E in color coding) directly on the price tags," he explains.

According to the initiator, no new data needs to be collected: "All the information for the calculation is already provided by manufacturers — the content of sugar, salt, and fats per 100 grams of the product. This is a simple formula that can be easily automated." Furthermore, Ivanov considers it important to involve the public in choosing the most understandable labeling system: "We propose to conduct a survey and choose between two popular options in Europe — Nutri-Score and Nutriform Battery."

The main advantage of this approach is convenience for consumers. "You will be able to compare two similar products — for example, different yogurts or breakfast cereals — without picking them up from the shelf. Making a healthy choice will become part of your daily routine," the initiative states.

The author is convinced that this measure will help not only each individual but also the entire country:

"A simple tool will reduce the risk of chronic diseases and allow people to live longer and better." "We will help children and grandchildren develop healthier eating habits."

"Healthy people create a stronger economy by reducing the burden on the healthcare system." Thus, the initiative aims to make healthy choices in stores as easy, quick, and accessible as possible for every shopper.