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Skráargatið is an official label that can be used for food products that meet specific requirements regarding the composition of nutrients:
Less and healthier fat
Less sugar
Less salt
More fibre and whole grains
The label can also be used on non-prepackaged foods: Vegetables, potatoes, fruits, berries, bread, rye crispbread, fish, and meat.
The label makes it easier for consumers to choose healthier food products from stores. Products with the label are healthier than other products in the same category that do not meet the requirements for using the label.
Products with the label Skráargatið are suitable for both children and adults. The label is for those who want to eat healthy food.
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To make it easier for consumers to choose healthier food products quickly when shopping and to encourage food manufacturers to develop healthier products and thus contribute to an increased supply of healthy food on the market.
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The label was developed in Sweden in 1989 and was regarded as a combination of the food circle on the one hand and the food pyramid on the other, both widely used in Sweden at this time.
Skráargatið is a positive food label that encourages people to eat diversely and choose the healthier option within each food category. The green colour in the sign stands for "forward", like the green light in traffic lights.
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Skráargatið can be placed on the packaging of food products considered part of a healthy and varied diet and meet specific requirements. The requirements are different for each food category, and food products are always compared within categories and not between categories.
The label can also be used on non-prepackaged foods: Vegetables, potatoes, fruits, berries, bread, rye crispbread, fish, and meat.
The following food products can use Skráargatið:
Fruits, berries, and nuts
Bread and cereal products
Fish and fish products
Vegetables and potatoes
Meat and meat products
Cooking oil, snacks, and sauces
Dairy products
Prepared dishes
Plant-based products as an alternative to animal products
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Soda and soft drinks, sweets, jams, snacks, biscuits, and cakes cannot use Skráargatið. The reason is that these are not classified as part of a healthy and varied diet and can contain a lot of added sugar, saturated fat, and salt.
Fruit juices can't use Skráargatið either. Eating fruits and vegetables rather than drinking juices is preferable, as juices contain less fibre and give less of a feeling of satiety than solid food.
Food products with sweeteners cannot use Skráargatið since it is not desirable to accustom people to a sweet taste. Skráargatið is not intended to increase the spread of products with a sweet taste, regardless of whether they contain a lot of sugar or sweeteners.
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Those who choose products with the label Skráargatið are choosing a healthier option within that category. Products labelled with Skráargatið contain less and healthier fat, i.e. less saturated fat, less salt and sugar, and more fibre and whole grains.
Choosing products labelled with Skráargatið makes it easier to eat healthily. The definitions are based on the Nordic recommendations on diet and nutrients.
Food choices affect health, and when people eat healthy foods and exercise regularly, they reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer.
Surveys indicate that consumers do not take the time to read the information on food packaging and that many even find it difficult to understand it. Skráargatið can be helpful because it makes it easier for consumers to choose healthier food products when shopping.
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Skráargatið can help with choosing healthier foods, but it is not enough. It is up to the consumer to prioritise and select products from all food groups daily. It is desirable to emphasise a diet with high consumption of vegetables, fruits, berries, fish, vegetable oil, whole grain products, low-fat dairy, and meat products. It is also essential to limit the consumption of products that contain a lot of saturated fat, sugar, and salt.
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Yes, if these foods are pre-packaged and meet the requirements of Skráargatið, for example, pizza with whole grain and vegetables. Products are being compared within categories and not between categories. The preferred option within each category is pointed out.
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There is no information available on the price of products with the label Skráargatið compared to other products, but there is no evidence that these products are more expensive. They shouldn't need to be more expensive since the use of the label is free of charge.
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Less fat means less saturated fat, while healthier fat means more unsaturated fatty acids.
Dietary recommendations recommend replacing some of the saturated fat with unsaturated fatty acids. This can be done by limiting the consumption of biscuits, cakes, sweets, and snacks, replacing full-fat meat and dairy products with lower-fat products, and using oils instead of margarine and butter. You can increase the amount of healthy fat in your diet by eating fatty fish (such as salmon, halibut, and herring), avocado, nuts, and fish oil.
You also need to pay attention to the quality of carbohydrates. It is not desirable to replace saturated fat with refined carbohydrates, but rather to consume whole grain products, fruit, and vegetables while reducing the consumption of refined carbohydrates (white flour, white pasta, white rice, fine bread that is low in fibre, and sugary foods).
Skráargatið can help because there are requirements for the healthiness of the fat and the maximum amount of saturated fat. In some categories, there are requirements for the minimum amount of whole grains, fibre, fruits, and vegetables.
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Products with the label Skráargatið are for those who want healthy food suitable for children and adults. However, it must be kept in mind that there are different recommendations at different stages of life; for example, the youngest children need a higher-fat diet, which must be considered when choosing food.
Food that is specifically intended for infants, for example, infant milk and baby food in a jar, cannot be labeled with Skráargatið.
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The experience in the Nordic countries has shown that producers have little interest in labelling unhealthy products with nutrition labels, implying that less of that product should be eaten. In addition, consumers are well aware of which food products are unhealthy and instead need guidance on which products are healthier alternatives.
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The definitions are based on Nordic nutritional recommendations. When the definitions are made, it must be considered that different products contain different amounts of nutrients. Therefore, the conditions vary by food category.
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No, Skráargatið cannot be used on dishes, e.g. sandwiches, pizzas, and wraps prepared in these places. The regulation applies to prepackaged food products and non-prepackaged foods: Vegetables, potatoes, fruits, berries, bread, rye crispbread, fish, and meat. However, the places can sell pre-packaged products with the label Skráargatið that meet the requirements according to regulations.
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No, products with the label Skráargatið are not intended as diet products but as part of a healthy and varied diet. The definitions behind the label are based on Nordic nutritional recommendations, which are designed for healthy people but not to treat diseases or promote weight loss.
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Yes, but only for sweeteners; products with the label Skráargatið should not contain sweeteners. The same rules apply to the use of other additives as for other food products.
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The Directorate of Health and the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority conducted a survey on the attitudes and knowledge of Skráargatið in the fall of 2012 and again in January 2015. This survey can be used as a benchmark to monitor how the implementation and promotion of the label are going. An increase in the number of products with the label Skráargatið can also be observed. However, it won't be easy to assess the label's effect on the citizens' health, as many factors affect it. It's good to remember that the label is only one part of improving the nation's diet by making it easier for citizens to make healthier choices.
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Skráargatið has been used in Sweden for over 25 years and in Norway and Denmark since 2009. The label is well known in these countries, but consumer surveys show that 88-98% know the label, and it can be assumed that it affects purchasing habits. The number of products with the label Skráargatið has increased since its introduction, and there are around 2-3 thousand products with Skráargatið on the market in these countries.
Service provider
Directorate of Health