One of the most satisfying results of this week’s Strasbourg session is the decision to crack down on misleading food labels.

Food companies can currently make claims on their labels which lack any real scientific basis and profess to be far healthier than they really are. For instance, a bag of crisps can be emblazoned with “low in salt” but still contain unhealthy levels of fat.

Now, under the new legislation passed by the European Parliament, food will have to meet certain criteria before it can make a claim such as “low in fat”. Food that is unhealthy in any aspect will not be able to brand itself as a healthy option, even if it does have low levels of one nutrient. Food manufacturers will also have to prove any health claims they make about their products.

With the Yorkshire Evening Post reporting that one in every eight children in Leeds is obese it is clear something needs to be done to combat this problem.

More truthful food labels may only play a small part in creating a healthier society but it is a step in the right direction. Now that manufacturers will be forced to print only facts on their labels consumers can at least make an informed decision about a product.