The Dutch government would like consumers to be able to choose healthy foods more easily and more consciously. In addition, the government ensures that food is safe and that the food producers properly inform consumers about their products.
The public must be able to trust that their food is safe. For this reason, all food products on the market in the Netherlands must adhere to food quality standards, governing for example which ingredients may be used and the presence of micro-organisms such as bacteria.
The government encourages supermarkets, catering companies, and food producers to make their assortment of products healthier. In order to carry the healthy choice label, products must meet a variety of requirements regarding the amount of sugar, fat, sodium, calories, and dietary fibre they contain.