The Wire

The national Heart Foundation’s healthy tick label, designed to improve consumer eating choices has come under fire from a leading nutritionist. Author and academic Dr Rosemary Stanton says the red tick system has been “co-opted” by the food industry and is misleading in some cases. She believes some major brands tweak individual items, to maker them eligible for the tick, while leaving the rest of their range in the poor nutrition category. They then use the positive association with the tick to boost sales of junk foods. The Heart Foundation has responded by saying the red tick system has significantly reduced the amounts of fat and salt in many foods. Dr Stanton discussed the issue with the Wire’s Elizabeth Hamilton.