Do you read the 'traffic lights'?

[Riley Blue]

I seem to have spent a fair bit of time in supermarkets over the Christmas period and because my O/H is diabetic and I've a heart problem, we're fussy about what's in our food - how much salt, sugar, fats etc. We always look at the contents on the food packets, bottles and so on but I was surprised at how few other people were. Most of them didn't give them a glance and I never heard any couples discussing the contents like we do.

Are we unusual? Or do people really not care what's in what they eat? I should add that I enjoy cooking and most of our meals are home-cooked; it's very rare that a 'ready meal' crosses our threshold.

[zarjaz1991]

No I'm the same, I always at least give this information a cursory glance.

[addz86]

I never used to but can't help looking lately, I wish they'd put it on the back so I could ignore it easier

[IanCress]

Most of our food is home made so it's not a major issue. The shock tends to come from the occasional packet of biscuits. You can't eat more than two of those triple chocolate cookies without being over your daily allowance!

[HarryFlatters]

I don't really buy pre-packed things, but I do read them and my purchases are influenced by them.

I tend to be more influenced by total calories rather than any of the other info.

[HTP99]

Like above, much of our main meals are from scratch so we know what goes in them, when we do have pre-packed food I tend not to bother checking the breakdown of its make up as once in a while it doesn't really do any harm and much of my food is logged onto My Fitness Pal so this tells me the if I am close to my daily allowance of salt or fat; I rarely get close, let alone above.

Had a Morrison's Big Breakfast on Saturday, I was pretty shocked at how much salt there was in it; over double my recommended daily amount and how many calories too, however the last time I had something like that was a couple of months ago so I'm not bothered.

[calibrax]

Riley Blue said:

We always look at the contents on the food packets, bottles and so on but I was surprised at how few other people were. Most of them didn't give them a glance and I never heard any couples discussing the contents like we do.

That's because you only need to look at them once - i.e. the first time you buy the product. If it's something people buy as a standard item in their weekly shop, then you won't see them reading the label at all.

[Cotty]

I give them a glance but don't take much notice unless it mostly red and orange

[MickC]

Um, I didn't even realise they were colour coded

[Gompo]

Yes, but out of curiosity rather than whether I'll buy the item or not. I generally have a good idea of the contents anyway. A shame they don't tell you how much protein is present, but then I suppose it is hard to quantify what colour it should be.

[Hoover.]

I sometimes take note of them colours, I don't really look at what it is actually warning me about... but lots of red sometimes make me put it back and choose something with a green...... other times I go just go I fancy that and I'm having it regardless

[grumbledoak]

I mostly buy fresh food that needs no ingredients lists, but I do read the ingredients lists where they have one. Have you tried finding real mayonnaise in the shops? Or peanut butter that is just made from peanuts? It is disgraceful that they can peddle all this gloop labelled as food.

[Bill]

I hadn't noticed it was a traffic light system , and rarely read the info anyway as I mostly cook from scratch and don't buy much processed food.

[Hoofy]

No. I would hazard a guess that they don't distinguish between good fats and bad fats. Or acknowledge that carbs turn to sugar. Or know my daily carb requirements. Or even mention protein levels.

[Bill]

I sympathise though, OP. I took part in some medical research that meant eating a low sodium diet. One weekend I went away without much planning and ended up eating sugar puffs all weekend as it was the only thing in the local shop not laden with salt.

[Hoofy]

Bill said:

I sympathise though, OP. I took part in some medical research that meant eating a low sodium diet. One weekend I went away without much planning and ended up eating sugar puffs all weekend as it was the only thing in the local shop not laden with salt.

#iifym

Edited by Hoofy on Thursday 14th January 21:26

[JakeT]

Saturated fat and salt is what I look at. But then again, I am 20.

[Hoofy]

JakeT said:

Saturated fat and salt is what I look at. But then again, I am 20.

Presumably, at that age, you only eat it if it's red.

[ambuletz]

Never bother with the traffic light thing myself. I only ever bother looking at how many calories, protein or carbs it has.

[Complex]

The traffic light system, while founded on good intentions is meaningless unless you track the entirety of your consumption of that form of nutrient.

I track only macro-nutrients and try to meet a minimum level of micro-nutrients daily but do keep half an eye on the level of filth I eat which constitutes said macros.

I feel that rather than focusing on token elements of supposed 'healthiness' on a piece-meal basis, people should focus on controlling their calories so as to maintain a healthy level of body fat.

There are very few things less healthy than being overweight for long periods of your life. Not that any gesture from regulators toward helping that isn't welcome, though.