Supermarkets are no longer opposing the use of a food labelling system that includes a red logo for unhealthy products, the NRC reported on Friday.

The system that supermarkets are now favouring and which replaces the ‘tick’ (V) logo, consists of a score between A (green) and E (red) and is based on the French labelling system Nutriscore.

The scores indicate calorific content, the amount of sugar, saturated fat, salt, protein, fruit, vegetables and nuts. A is the healthiest option while red means the product is bad for your health. The CBL has stipulated that the system be based on the Dutch ‘Schijf van Vijf’, the official Dutch recommendations on healthy eating.

‘We are no longer opposed to the use of ‘red’ on products. Consumers know very well which products are unhealthy,’ Marc Janse, chairman of supermarket association CBL told the paper.

The decision comes in the wake of last week’s Nationaal Preventieakkoord which aims to tackle smoking, obesity and problem drinking. The accord, in which 70 organisations are involved, states that a new, easily understandable labelling system,  must be in place by 2020.

According to consumer organisation Consumentenbond, 62% of Dutch consumers would welcome the Nutriscore logo although 69% prefer the British ‘stop sign’ system, which colour codes according to the amount of sugar, fat, and sugar per portion.

However, almost one in five think using a logo indicating healthy or unhealthy food is an example of the ‘nanny state’, the NRC said.