A Traffic light rating system is a system for indicating the status of a variable using the red, yellow, or green of traffic lights.
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Food sold prepacked may be labeled with a traffic light label showing at a glance the proportions of fat, saturated fats, sugar, and salt using traffic light signals for high ("red"), medium ("yellow") and low ("green") percentages for each of these ingredients. Foods with "green" indicators are healthier and to be preferred over those with "red" ones.[1] The label is on the front of the package and easier to spot and interpret than Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) labeling which will continue. The GDA is difficult to understand for many, including children, and does not lend itself to quick comparisons. The use of traffic light labeling is supported by many physician groups including the British Medical Association and welcomed by consumers[2]. Despite worries from some in the food industry that "red" foods would be shunned, the British Medical Association, Food Standards Agency and others agree that consumers interpret the labels sensibly, realise they can have red foods as a "treat", and they are easier to understand than lists of percentages.[2]
| Ingredient | Green (low content) | Yellow (medium content) | Red (high content) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat | less than 3 g | between 3 g and 20 g | more than 20 g |
| Saturated Fats | less than 1,5 g | between 1,5 g and 5 g | more than 5 g |
| Sugar | less than 5 g | between 5 g and 12,5 g | more than 12,5 g |
| Salt | less than 0,3 g | between 0,3 g and 1,5 g | more than 1,5 g |
| Ingredient | Green (low content) | Yellow (medium content) | Red (high content) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat | less than 1,5 g | between 1,5 g and 10 g | more than 10 g |
| Saturated Fats | less than 0,75 g | between 0,75 g and 2,5 g | more than 2,5 g |
| Sugar | less than 2,5 g | between 2,5 g and 6,3 g | more than 6,3 g |
| Salt | less than 0,3 g | between 0,3 g and 1,5 g | more than 1,5 g |
Currently the traffic light label is used in some European countries on a voluntary basis.
White goods must be labeled with a label indicating energy consumption. This is not strictly a "traffic light" but by analogy a scale of seven values that run from red to green through intermediate colors.
The system may also be used for the European Game Information System (PEGI)[4], which puts age ratings onto video games. Again this is not strictly a "traffic light" since there are likely to be more than three colors.
In many factories, different stations on the production line(s) are equipped with factory monitoring and control systems; attached to such systems is a "traffic light" status indicator which is generally visible from many places within the factory. Green typically indicates normal levels of production; amber indicates that production has slowed (or attention is otherwise warranted); red indicates that production has stopped or the line is down.
In the British Civil Service and other departments of the United Kingdom government, traffic lights are used as a coding system for good or bad performance - usually known as a RAG rating. For example in relation to the workload performance, red would mean inadequate, amber would mean reasonable, and green would mean ideal. The letters R, A and G are used in addition to swatches of colour, so that the system can be used by color blind readers.
Some organisations, such as the U.S. Navy, use traffic light terminology for sexual harassment education. Green light behaviour is normal discussions or actions, such as discussing work or assisting someone on stairs. Yellow light behaviour is potentially offensive behavior, such as sexist jokes or patting someone on the behind. Red light behaviour is obvious sexual harassment such as sexual requests.