The UK Food Standards Agency Chief Scientist Robin May recommends an urgent process for a unified eco-labeling system to get the food industry on a pathway to sustainability. FSA (Food Standard Agency) surveys suggest that 73% of consumers polled think it is important to buy food that has a low environmental impact, but less than half of the consumers surveyed though their personal diet was sustainable. The largest barrier to a more sustainable diet was cost followed by a lack of understanding in terms of food choices and their environmental impact. Currently there are no international standards for sustainability labels, nor the standards required for such labeling. Many feel that sustainability labeling could drive rapid improvements in the food and beverage industries and offer consumers greater transparency as to the footprint of the foods they buy. Others think this could be another area prone to greenwashing.

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Posted on 2 December 2021