In December 2006, the European Parliament and Council Regulation on the use of nutrition and health claims for foods was published, with application from July 2007. This Regulation established harmonised rules for the use of health or nutritional claims such as “low fat”, “high fiber” and “helps lower cholesterol”.

Precise definitions govern use of specific terms.

• Low sugar means no more than 5g of sugars per 100g or 2.5g per 100ml.
• Sugar-free means no more than 0.5g of sugars per 100g or 100ml.
• Low calorie means less than 40 kcal (170 kJ)/100g and less than 20kcal (80kJ)/100ml
• Reduced calorie means energy value must be reduced by at least 30 percent, plus an indication of how the reduced energy value is obtained.

To claim that a product is “light” or “lite” it must meet the “reduced calorie” criteria above, and carry an explanation of which characteristics underpin the reduction.