Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 9 • Number 20 • 13th November 2009

Sweden Tells All with CO2 Emissions Food Labels

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Sweden has become the first country to experiment with labels that indicate the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during the production and transportation of food products.

A 2005 government study revealed that 25 percent of Sweden’s national per capita emissions are due to food products -a finding that inspired Sweden to introduce the carbon-emission ratings this summer, along with new food guidelines that give equal weight to health and environment considerations. The carbon-emission labels, which are currently voluntary, are being applied to food sold in supermarkets and restaurants.

In some cases the proposed new dietary guidelines run counter to traditional advice on healthy eating. Swedes, for example, are advised to consume less fish, despite the health benefits, because Europe’s stocks are depleting. In other cases, health and environmental benefits are aligned, as when the National Food Administration recommends that consumers choose beans or chicken over red meat due to the extensive amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with raising cattle.

Richard Bergfors, president of Sweden’s largest chain of burger restaurants, Max, said that sales of climate-friendly items have increased by 20 percent since emission ratings appeared on their menus, according to the New York Times.

However, the carbon-emission labels have drawn mixed reviews from the food industry. Some producers, such as Europe’s meat industry and Norway’s salmon farmers, have argued that the new label programs are overly complex and threaten profits. The complexity stems from the fact that emission outputs for specific products can vary depending on how and where it was grown, the type of soil used, and whether a dairy farmer used local or imported feed for cattle.

Experts have said that if these new food guidelines are strictly observed, then emissions from food production could be cut by 20 to 50 percent.

“To Cut Global Warming, Swedes Study Their Plates,” NEW YORK TIMES, 23 October 2009; “Sweden Mandates Carbon Emissions Labels on Food,” ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER, 27 October 2009.