Labels ‘should show exercise requirement’

TELLING people how much exercise they need to do to burn off food and drink could be more effective at encouraging healthier choices than simply listing the calories, a study has claimed.

Physical activity calorie equivalent or expenditure (Pace) food labelling tells consumers how many minutes or miles of exercise they need to do to burn off the calories in a particular product.

The Royal Society for Public Health has called for Pace labelling to replace the current system, where calories and nutritional content are listed.

The authors said this is having a limited effect on changing purchasing and eating behaviours as many people do not understand the meaning of calories or fat levels in terms of energy balance.

Researchers from Loughborough University and colleagues predict the system could shave off up to around 200 calories per person each day on average if widely applied.

This could help prevent populationlevel obesity, as over-consumption of small amounts of calories is a key contributing factor, they said.

They pooled data from 14 randomised controlled trials comparing the i mpact of Pace labelling with other types on the selection, purchase and consumption of food and drinks, excluding alcohol.

They found that fewer grams of food and beverages were consumed, fewer calories selected and fewer calories consumed when Pace labelling was used, compared with other types of label or no labels.

Some 65 fewer calories per meal were selected when Pace labelling was used, and 80-100 fewer calories consumed.

Researchers said this would scale up to roughly 200 calories per day.