Three out of the ‘big four’ supermarkets already do it, or say they are going to start doing it, but now Lidl has joined the bandwagon.
Lidl has announced plans to introduce traffic light labelling on products, throughout its stores. The system, which is recommended by Which?, is already used by Aldi, Asda, Marks and Spencer (M&S), Sainsbury’s, The Co-operative and Waitrose; plus Tesco, who have recently joined.
The system is designed to give shoppers visiting retail commercial properties a better understanding of what is in the products that they are buying by colour coding levels of calories, fat, salt and sugars. High levels are coloured red, medium levels are coloured orange and low levels are coloured green.
Speaking of the move by Lidl to adopt the system, Richard Lloyd, Executive Director of Which?, said: “Lidl joins as the latest supermarket to introduce traffic light labelling, a system Which? has long been calling for to allow shoppers to make informed choices about what they buy.”
The system enables shoppers who are in a rush, to quickly skim the front of the pack for colours to see if they are making a healthy choice. The more green you see, the better.
Morrisons is now the only other ‘big four’ supermarket that hasn’t adopted the traffic light labelling system, but Which? have urged them to join.
“Morrisons and Iceland now remain the only supermarkets to not use traffic light labelling and we urge them to introduce the system as soon as possible,” Richard added.
Do you think all supermarkets should adopt the traffic light labelling system on their products to ensure shoppers can easily see what is in the food that they are buying? Or do you think retailers should have the choice about how they package their own products?