Traffic light rating system
Encyclopedia
A Traffic light rating system is a system for indicating the status of a variable using the red, yellow, or green of traffic light
s.
, saturated fat
s, sugar
, and salt
using traffic light
signals for high ("red"), medium ("yellow") and low ("green") percentages for each of these ingredients. Foods with "green" indicators are healthier and to be preferred over those with "red" ones. The label is on the front of the package and easier to spot and interpret than Guideline Daily Amount
(GDA) labeling which will continue. The GDA is difficult to understand for many, including children, and does not lend itself to quick comparisons. The use of traffic light labeling is supported by many physician groups including the British Medical Association and welcomed by consumers. Despite worries from some in the food industry that "red" foods would be shunned, the British Medical Association
, Food Standards Agency
and others agree that consumers interpret the labels sensibly, realise they can have red foods as a "treat", and they are easier to understand than lists of percentages.
Currently the traffic light label is used in some European countries on a voluntary basis.
indicating energy consumption. This is not strictly a "traffic light" but by analogy a scale of seven values that run from red to green through intermediate colors.
The system may also be used for the European Game Information System (PEGI), which puts age ratings onto video games. Again this is not strictly a "traffic light" since there are likely to be more than three colors.
In the British Civil Service
and other departments of the United Kingdom government
, traffic lights are used as a coding system for good or bad performance - usually known as a RAG rating. For example in relation to the workload performance, red would mean inadequate, amber would mean reasonable, and green would mean ideal. The letters R, A and G are used in addition to swatches of colour, so that the system can be used by color blind readers.
Some organisations, such as the U.S. Navy
, use traffic light terminology for sexual harassment
education. Green light behaviour is normal discussions or actions, such as discussing work or assisting someone on stairs. Yellow light behaviour is potentially offensive behavior, such as sexist jokes or patting someone on the behind. Red light behaviour is obvious sexual harassment such as sexual requests.
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
s.
Traffic light food labeling
Food sold prepacked may be labeled with a traffic light label showing at a glance the proportions of fatFat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
, saturated fat
Saturated fat
Saturated fat is fat that consists of triglycerides containing only saturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between the individual carbon atoms of the fatty acid chain. That is, the chain of carbon atoms is fully "saturated" with hydrogen atoms...
s, sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
, and salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
using traffic light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
signals for high ("red"), medium ("yellow") and low ("green") percentages for each of these ingredients. Foods with "green" indicators are healthier and to be preferred over those with "red" ones. The label is on the front of the package and easier to spot and interpret than Guideline Daily Amount
Guideline Daily Amount
Guideline Daily Amounts are a nutrition facts label that originally began in 1998 as a collaboration between the UK government, the food industry and consumer organizations. The process was overseen by the Institute of Grocery Distribution...
(GDA) labeling which will continue. The GDA is difficult to understand for many, including children, and does not lend itself to quick comparisons. The use of traffic light labeling is supported by many physician groups including the British Medical Association and welcomed by consumers. Despite worries from some in the food industry that "red" foods would be shunned, the British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
, Food Standards Agency
Food Standards Agency
The Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for protecting public health in relation to food throughout the United Kingdom and is led by a board appointed to act in the public interest...
and others agree that consumers interpret the labels sensibly, realise they can have red foods as a "treat", and they are easier to understand than lists of percentages.
| Ingredient | Green (low content) | Yellow (medium content) | Red (high content) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat | less than 3 g | between 3 g and 20 g | more than 20 g |
| Saturated Fats | less than 1,5 g | between 1,5 g and 5 g | more than 5 g |
| Sugar | less than 5 g | between 5 g and 12,5 g | more than 12,5 g |
| Salt | less than 0,3 g | between 0,3 g and 1,5 g | more than 1,5 g |
| Ingredient | Green (low content) | Yellow (medium content) | Red (high content) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat | less than 1,5 g | between 1,5 g and 10 g | more than 10 g |
| Saturated Fats | less than 0,75 g | between 0,75 g and 2,5 g | more than 2,5 g |
| Sugar | less than 2,5 g | between 2,5 g and 6,3 g | more than 6,3 g |
| Salt | less than 0,3 g | between 0,3 g and 1,5 g | more than 1,5 g |
Currently the traffic light label is used in some European countries on a voluntary basis.
Other labeling
White goods must be labeled with a labelEuropean Union energy label
EU Directive 92/75/EC established an energy consumption labeling scheme. The directive was implemented by several other directives thus most white goods, light bulb packaging and cars must have an EU Energy Label clearly displayed when offered for sale or rent...
indicating energy consumption. This is not strictly a "traffic light" but by analogy a scale of seven values that run from red to green through intermediate colors.
The system may also be used for the European Game Information System (PEGI), which puts age ratings onto video games. Again this is not strictly a "traffic light" since there are likely to be more than three colors.
Performance monitoring
In many factories, different stations on the production line(s) are equipped with factory monitoring and control systems; attached to such systems is a "traffic light" status indicator which is generally visible from many places within the factory. Green typically indicates normal levels of production; amber indicates that production has slowed (or attention is otherwise warranted); red indicates that production has stopped or the line is down.In the British Civil Service
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
and other departments of the United Kingdom government
Departments of the United Kingdom Government
Her Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom contains a number of Cabinet ministers who are usually called secretaries of state when they are in charge of Government departments called ministerial departments...
, traffic lights are used as a coding system for good or bad performance - usually known as a RAG rating. For example in relation to the workload performance, red would mean inadequate, amber would mean reasonable, and green would mean ideal. The letters R, A and G are used in addition to swatches of colour, so that the system can be used by color blind readers.
Some organisations, such as the U.S. Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
, use traffic light terminology for sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
education. Green light behaviour is normal discussions or actions, such as discussing work or assisting someone on stairs. Yellow light behaviour is potentially offensive behavior, such as sexist jokes or patting someone on the behind. Red light behaviour is obvious sexual harassment such as sexual requests.