Fine Gael and Labour today pledged to introduce clear nutritional information on food packaging if they form the next government.
The parties launched their joint policy on "traffic light" food labelling this morning, a system which would see dietary advice presented in a prominent and easy-to-follow format on the front of food packaging.
The new labelling would provide separate information on fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt using red, amber or green colour coding to indicate whether levels of these nutrients are high, medium or low and the extent to which they should be included in a balanced diet.
Speaking at the launch, Fine Gael spokesman on agriculture and food Denis Naughten said the refusal by the Government to reform the food labelling system was 'condemning Irish consumers to shopping blindfolded.'
"At the moment, up to 11 different types of information are displayed on processed food products so it's easy to understand how food shopping can become a confusing business," he said.
"On top of this recent media reports have highlighted mislabelling of food including high-sugar foods being labelled as 'healthy'. We believe that most Irish shoppers are naturally inclined towards healthy, high-quality food but are being denied that choice," he added.
Labour's Mary Upton said that the labelling system could make a significant contribution to healthier lifestyles. "In light of the fact that obesity is one of the fastest growing health problems in Ireland, we recognise that choosing food plays a vital role in leading a healthy life.
"Traffic light labelling is a consistent way of highlighting how much fat, sugar and salt a food contains to make it simpler for people to put healthy advice into practice when shopping," she said.