Sainsbury's first to provide nutrition labels for kids

Supermarket group Sainsbury's has become the first retailer to provide Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) for children aged 5 to 10 years on its food packaging. The move is in line with recommendations by grocery sector body IGD, which were announced yesterday.

The first 80 products to display children's GDAs are in the Sainsbury's kids' range, which launched yesterday. The labelling will be phased in and displayed on all own-brand products.

While GDAs for adults have been printed on the back of packaging for many years, this will be the first time GDAs for children have been displayed on packaging, said the retailer.

Eventually children's GDAs will be displayed on all Sainsbury's own-brand products, including the Taste the Difference and Be Good To Yourself ranges.

'Extensive research from Sainsbury's, TNS and IGD has conclusively confirmed that parents are looking for healthier choices when buying for children or the whole family,' said Sainsbury's director of health Judith Batchelar.

'Previously, many parents have felt confused when looking at the labelling and wondered how far adult GDAs reflect children's nutritional needs. The answer is they are very different,' she added.