Using food labelling laws to combat childhood obesity: Lessons from the EU, the WTO and Codex

The use of food labelling as a mechanism to assist in tackling the problems of childhood obesity has become much more prevalent in recent years. These labels can be used to inform consumers, enabling them to make healthier food choices, but they can also sometimes lead people to believe that a product is ‘good for them’, when in fact it may be quite deleterious to their health. This chapter examines current food labelling laws. It illustrates how these laws have created a format that can be used help consumers to understand more about the food that they eat. However, shortcomings in the law mean that labels can also relay dishonest or confusing messages. Individual States have therefore devised their own national schemes in an effort to provide more clarity for consumers. These national schemes remain subject to international legal obligations, making it difficult for these States to compel or encourage anyone to use them. The chapter tries to identify which labelling types might therefore be the best ones to use to help to reduce childhood obesity.