Food labels trick parents

NEARLY half of foods and drinks marketed at British children are less healthy than they claim, a study has found.

The health and nutrition messages on a selection of fruitbased snacks, juices, yoghurts, cereals and ready-meals were tested to see whether their claims held up. But of 332 products from supermarkets tested by experts at Glasgow University 41 per cent were less healthy than stated. The researchers said labels can be ‘confusing’ and can mislead parents. Three-quarters of items claiming to contain ‘one of your five fruit and veg a day’ did not reach the recommended portion size of 80g. And half of the products that stated they contained ‘no added sugars’ had concentrated juice or fruit puree added, which are ‘free sugars’.

Cereal bars were found to have the highest saturated fat content. The study authors said stricter regulations are needed.