The Finnish food
industry is gradually adopting a new pan-European system of nutritional content
labelling for products. GDA (Guideline Daily Amount) tells the consumer how
much energy and key nutrients are contained in one portion or in some other
measurement typically used in foodstuffs. The labelling also provides
information on the proportion of energy and nutrients in the guideline daily
amount. The labelling, the adoption of which is voluntary, will support the
ability of consumers to make balanced choices concerning diet.
The GDA-based labelling
system incorporates a symbol on the front of the packet, which indicates the
amount of energy content typically contained in the portion or other food
measure, and its percentage share of the adult guideline daily amount, which is
2,000 Kcal. This corresponds to the energy requirement of a woman of normal
weight, performing light work and doing a moderate amount of physical exercise,
and is based on a varied diet. The corresponding energy amount for men is 2,500
Kcal.
Other sides of the pack
provide similar information about sugar, fat, saturated fats and sodium in
symbols or in tabular form. There may also be information on protein,
carbohydrates and fibre.
The size of a portion is
typically defined as an amount that can be used or easily consumed at one time,
for example, an ice cream cone, one biscuit, one sausage or a carton of
yoghurt. The sizes of portions have been agreed in advance with the food
industry, so that comparison between different products is made easier.
Like many other Finnish
companies, Vaasan & Vaasan Oy introduced the
first phase of GDA labelling to the product descriptions on its website at the
beginning of December. Product descriptions are marked with symbols denoting
the energy, sugars, fat, saturated fat, sodium, fibre, protein and carbohydrate
contained in each product. The labelling can be viewed by clicking on the
’Products’ link at the www.vaasan.com website. For the time being, no changes
will be made to the packaging.
Example: FINN CRISP Multigrain Crispbread
Portion sizes for bakery
products, the nutrient content of which can be compared to the guideline daily
amount:
|
Bread
|
|
Rye bites and flat bread that can be folded
|
1 slice*
|
|
Sliced bread
|
1 average slice*
|
|
Rolls
|
½ roll*
|
|
Unsliced
loaf and torn bread
|
30 g**
|
|
Flat breads
|
30 g**
|
|
Baguettes and similar
|
30 g**
|
|
Coffee breads
|
|
Bun loaf, unsliced
|
30 g**
|
|
Bun loaf, sliced
|
1 average slice*
|
|
Filled bun loaf,
Boston cake, etc.
|
50 g**
|
|
Pies divided into portions
|
50 g**
|
|
Moist pies (comparable to bakery products) divided
into portions
|
70 g**
|
|
Swiss rolls
|
30 g**
|
|
Cakes
|
|
Spice cakes
|
30 g**
and ***
|
|
Filled cakes
|
Weight of an average piece calculated for one person
according to the number of peoplegiven for the size
of the cake
|
|
Intended for eating at one time
|
Pies, pasties, coffee buns, cinnamon buns, doughnuts, jam doughnuts, etc 1 pc
|
*=always
also gives additional information on the average weight of the
slice/half/piece, etc in grammes
**=depending on the space available on the packet, gives additional information
on how many portions corresponding
to the average portion size can be had from one product
***=if, because of the nature/size of the product, the actual portion size
differs considerably from 30 g, the actual portion size is used
From a 300g loaf, you get about 10 slices
For further information,
please contact
Jill Sundström
Product Group Manager
Tel. +358 204 46 2009
Minna Sundelin
Communications Manager
Tel. +358 204 46 2102
Source: Finnish Food and Drink Industries' Federation
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