Traffic Light Labels Explained: A Complete Guide

What Are Traffic Light Labels?

Traffic light labels are the UK's voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme. They use red, amber, and green colour coding to show at a glance whether a food is high, medium, or low in fat, saturated fat, sugars, and salt.

While not legally required, they're recommended by the UK government and expected by most major retailers. If you're selling into supermarkets or want to build consumer trust, traffic light labels are essential.

How the Colours Work

Each nutrient is assessed per 100g (or per portion for certain products):

Fat

**Green (Low):** 3g or less per 100g

**Amber (Medium):** More than 3g to 17.5g per 100g

**Red (High):** More than 17.5g per 100g

Saturated Fat

**Green (Low):** 1.5g or less per 100g

**Amber (Medium):** More than 1.5g to 5g per 100g

**Red (High):** More than 5g per 100g

Sugars

**Green (Low):** 5g or less per 100g

**Amber (Medium):** More than 5g to 22.5g per 100g

**Red (High):** More than 22.5g per 100g

Salt

**Green (Low):** 0.3g or less per 100g

**Amber (Medium):** More than 0.3g to 1.5g per 100g

**Red (High):** More than 1.5g per 100g

Why Use Traffic Light Labels?

Consumer Trust

Shoppers increasingly look for traffic light labels when making purchasing decisions. They signal transparency and help health-conscious consumers choose your products.

Retailer Requirements

Most major UK supermarkets expect traffic light labelling on products. Without them, you may struggle to get listed.

Competitive Advantage

Clear, honest nutrition information sets you apart from competitors who only provide the bare minimum.

Common Questions

Are traffic light labels mandatory?

No, they're voluntary. However, back-of-pack nutrition information is mandatory for most pre-packed foods.

What about drinks?

Drinks use slightly different thresholds. The per 100ml values are typically lower than per 100g values for food.

Can I use traffic lights on small packages?

Yes, though you may need to adapt the format for small label areas. The colour coding can be simplified while retaining its effectiveness.

How Crumpet Calculates Traffic Lights

Crumpet automatically calculates traffic light colours based on your recipe's nutritional profile. As you build your recipe, we analyse the fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt content and generate the correct colour coding.

No manual calculations. No checking thresholds. Just accurate traffic light labels ready for your packaging.