SIMPLIFIED FOOD LABELING SYSTEM FOR CONSUMERS

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of the research was to define and analyze a simplified mechanism for reliably informing consumers about the composition of food products in order to protect their health and facilitate the perception and understanding of nutrition labeling, with unambiguous and quick awareness of the nutritional value of a food product.

Methodology. During theoretical research, methods based on systematic analysis of statistical databases were used. The results of the research were obtained by applying the methods of analysis and synthesis of information, abstraction and grouping.

Results. The article shows the essence of the activity of the database of the Rapid Alert  System for Food and Feed (RASFF), which was created by the European Commission with the aim of informing co nsumers, business operators and authorities in all countries of the world as transparently as possible. It is argued that safe foods are critical to health and food security, as well as to the livelihoods, economic development, trade and international reputation of each country. However, it has been determined that even in countries in which the systems of regulation and control over the entry of high-quality and safe products into the consumer market work effectively, cases of fraud are observed. The essence of the proposal regarding the public initiative called "PRO-NUTRISCORE", the task of which is to establish a simplified Nutriscore labeling on food products, in order to provide consumers with reliable information and protect their health, is highlighted. The classification of the nutritional value of food products is given. The list of basic mandatory and additional mandatory information on food products is defined. Methods of providing information about the food product to the final consumer by indicating in the labeling are defined. The simplified Nutriscore labeling system proposed by the EU is presented in order to provide consumers with reliable information. The classification of food products into categories based on the nutrient profiling system developed by the Food Standards Agency is given. It is shown that a calculation algorithm similar to Nutri-score has been developed on the basis of a simplified labeling system, which is also based on the balance of harmful and useful ingredients and works as a mobile application. The perspective of adopting the mandatory simplified Nutri-score labeling instead of the current recommendation procedure has been proven.

The scientific novelty of the obtained results is revealed in the presented and analyzed system of informing consumers about dangerous products, systematization and analysis of criteria for determining the effectiveness of the mechanism for protecting consumers from dangerous risks when choosing a food product. The practical significance can be determined by citing the positive factors of determining the advantages of the proposed labeling system of useful substances and the consumption value of food products.