Warning lights on food

Food packets could carry traffic light-style warnings in a government drive to tackle Britain's obesity epidemic, ministers warned industry chiefs today.

A red light logo would signal the unhealthiest foods in a scheme to be imposed unless manufacturers make rapid progress in cutting levels of fat, salt and sugar in processed food.

At a Westminster "fat summit", ministers floated a raft of possible sanctions. Fast food outlets face pressure to serve up smaller portions while supermarkets are being told to curb "pester power" by moving sweets away from checkouts.

A Whitehall consultation paper also revived the idea of a "fat tax" on unhealthy food as a last resort.

That move was suggested recently by the Downing Street Strategy Unit but abandoned after objections from Chancellor Gordon Brown and Health Secretary John Reid.

Today's 35-page paper from the Department of Health pointed to evidence that shoppers are confused by detailed nutritional information and health claims on labels, and would welcome clearer symbols.

The idea of red, amber and green lights on packaging was put forward by the International Obesity Taskforce last year. It has received qualified support from the Government's watchdog, the Food Standards Agency.

The European Commission is examining whether it should be compulsory for manufacturers to state on packets that the contents contain low, medium or high levels of fat, salt and sugar.

The 35-page paper, issued by the Department of Health, pointed to the example of Norway where, it said, "fiscal and regulatory strategies designed to affect prices of healthy foods" had brought a 30 per cent rise in sales of vegetables and a 13 per cent drop in fat intake. To drive home the threat, officials added: "Price can have an important impact on consumer demand."

Officials stressed that the paper was merely floating a range of options and examining solutions which have worked elsewhere. It comes ahead of a White Paper on obesity due this summer.

But the reference to "fiscal strategies" - Whitehall-speak for tax - was set to ring alarm bells at the Treasury.

Dr Reid is understood to remain unconvinced of the case for a fat tax on junk food.

However, the British Medical Association declared its support earlier this year for such a sanction on foods including pies and pastries.

Besides Norway, some American states charge sales tax on sugary soft drinks while exempting fruit and vegetables.

Industry chiefs were arguing at the summit that the surge in obesity is due chiefly to lack of exercise, not overeating.

The latest official figures show 24million adults - about two in three - are "overweight" or worse.

One in five adults is obese and the number has trebled since the Eighties. The problem is worst among working-class families in deprived areas.