Colour coding of foods and beverages mandatory from April 2

Colour coding of foods and beverages according to the salt and fat content of the foods will be mandatory from 2 April, the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine said.

The colour coding system according to the sugar content in beverages has been mandatory since August 2016 and from 2 April, all foods and beverages are required to be colour coded according to the sugar, salt and fat contents, Director General of the Ministry of Health (Foodservice) Dr. Lakshman Gamlath said.

Accordingly, all foods with a sugar content exceeding 22 grams per 100 gram of food would be marked in red, with sugar content from 8 grams to 22 grams would be marked in yellow and those with less than 8 grams would be marked in green.

If the salt content is over 1.25 grams per 100 gram of the food, the items should be marked red, from 0.25 gram to 1.25 gram yellow and if less than 0.25 g per 100 gram, the items should be marked green.

For fats, foods over 17.5 grams of fat per 100 gram should be marked red, from 3 -17.5 grams per 100 gram green and fat less than 3 grams per 100 gram should be marked green.

However, these regulations will not be applied to milk, vegetables, fruits, rice, small packeted foods, tea, coffee, bottled water, medically prescribed foods, baby foods and infant formula.

The new law will definitely come into effect from 5 April, Dr. Gamlath said addressing a media briefing held today under the patronage of Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

(Colombo Page)