The industry model: GDA |
16.02.2010
The GDA system of labelling was developed by the industry. Many companies, such as Nestlé and Kellogg’s, are using these labels as a kind of forward defence strategy for avoiding a colour-coded labelling system. The food manufacturers love GDAs because these labels can be easily manipulated to make products look good:
Even products that are specially marketed for children have GDAs based on the calorie requirements of an average adult woman (2,000 kcal). On children’s yogurt products like Danino, for example, the percentage figures would be much higher if they were based on the actual calorie requirements of small children.
The GDA percentage figures are calculated based on portion sizes determined by the manufacturer. Of course, the smaller the portion size, the lower the percentage GDA. However, British studies have shown that people on average eat larger portions than the manufacturers specify. The variety of portion sizes also makes it very difficult to compare products. Customers must first convert the fat, sugars and salt values to the portion size of the other product – that is assuming they even notice that the values are based on different portion sizes.
GDAs are based on nutritional guidelines set by the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA). Among nutritional scientists, the guideline amount being used for sugars is especially controversial. "It seems that a ‘favourable’ (arbitrary) estimate for sugars was chosen," wrote the German Nutrition Society (DGE) in their assessment of the CIAA’s guideline amount for sugars.
