Dive Brief:
- Four of the world's leading beer manufacturers have agreed to begin using nutrition labels on their products in Europe, and the U.S. could be next.
- The beer makers onboard with the new agreement come from the Brewers of Europe trade group, which includes Anheuser-Busch InBev SA, SABMiller PLC, Heineken NV and Carlsberg A/S.
- The minimum labeling would include a printed link to a website with complete information, but many other companies will provide more nutritional information directly on the packaging.
Dive Insight:
This announcement closely follows Diageo's news last week that it would also be affixing nutrition labels to its products. Though nutrition labels are not required for beer, wine, or spirits in either the U.S. or Europe as of now. Will this be the new norm for alcoholic beverages, before laws are instated? These laws may be inevitable as health concerns, particularly obesity, flood the market at the consumer and government levels. Consumers more than ever want to know what's in food and drink. Instituting these labels now can keep beer and liquor companies ahead of the game.