For people with Type 2 diabetes
The traffic light colours, on the front of some packs, tell you whether the product has low, medium or high amounts of fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt.
Examples of how these may look are shown in the illustrations:
Red means high – keep an eye on how often you are choosing these foods. Choose them less often or eat them in smaller quantities.
Amber means medium – it's okay to have some of the time but when you have a choice, try to go for green.
Green means low – a healthier choice.
Most foods will have a mix of coloured lights so try to choose more products with green and amber and less with red. You don't need to avoid all foods high in fat, sugar or salt - it's the overall balance of your diet that counts. Eaten occasionally, or in small amounts, red foods won't significantly affect your overall diet.
If the traffic light label doesn't tell you enough, check the back of packs for detailed information.
Reviewed August 2010
Next review February 2012