Fry's Turkish Delight is another popular product which has used health claims to boost its status. Emblazoned on the front are the words "92 per cent fat free and always has been". Although this is true, it masks the fact that the main ingredient of the confection is glucose syrup.
Dr Mike Rayner, director of the British Heart Foundation Health Promotions Research Group at Oxford University, said that food makers should come clean. "It's vital that people get to understand how much fat and saturated fat they are actually eating. An important way they can do this is by food manufacturers telling us - preferably in plain English - how much fat and saturated fat there is in products."
Today, laws do not require manufacturers to list the amount of sugar and salt in foods. Often they come under a wider title of "sodium" and "carbohydrates" instead.
The Co-op wants a change in the law so that all foods have clear labels indicating the fat, sugar, salt and calorie content so that consumers know the effect on their health. The supermarket is today putting labels on its own-brand products which contain this information, despite the fact that offering such details breaks EU law.
Wendy Wrigley, general manager of retail brands at the Co-op Group, said: "There are many contributory factors to diet-related disorders. Misleading labelling is one that can be easily eliminated. We're calling on food companies and retailers to join our campaign to sweep misleading labels off the shelves once and for all."
However, the Co-op admitted it would not stop selling branded products with misleading labels. In the past few years, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people trying to adopt a more healthy lifestyle. Not only has membership of gyms and sports clubs surged but sales of healthier foods have also increased.
Sales of diet food and drinks are expected to increase to £61 billion by 2006 - a £10 billion rise in only a decade. All of the major supermarkets now sell own-brand ranges of lower-fat ready meals.
Children, according to a recent Government survey, consume 3.5g salt a day. The Government recommends that a child under the age of four should only consume 1.25g salt a day - or, if over four years of age, 1.73g a day.
