By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The government and the Grand National Party (GNP) are seeking to attach warnings to fast foods and snacks that can lead to obesity, a GNP lawmaker said Sunday.
Once the measure comes into effect, color labels will show how many grams, calories, fat and sugar foods contain.
``It is difficult for consumers to judge whether foods are harmful or not by only calories printed on the box,'' said Rep. Ahn Hong-joon.
Like warnings on cigarettes, he said that colors to be shown on containers will help people easily recognize how foods can affect their weight.
For example, red would point to foods that can have the most harmful effect on weight, which includes excess sugar, fat and sodium, yellow for slightly harmful and green for no harm.
Citing reports that treating obese children and teenagers could cause economic losses worth about two trillion won, Ahn said the figure could reach tens of trillion won in the long term.
However, some analysts claim the plan will likely invite a backlash from companies making or selling the foodstuffs since the warnings could lead to decreased profits.
The ruling camp will also tighten regulations on selling junk food around schools, Ahn said.
The government has already set food safety zones within a radius of 200 meters from schools, prohibiting the selling of junk food that is high in calories yet low in nutrition.
In a bid to protect the health of children and adolescents, the party and the government are considering closing down stores if they keep selling fast foods despite warnings.
Ahn added the ruling camp will also present a master plan to secure food safety soon.
``After U.S. beef imports resumed, citizens became more interested in health issues. So, we are studying on how to reinforce safety measures,'' he said.
ksy@koreatimes.co.kr
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