Food standards bosses are pushing forward with a plan to introduce traffic light labeling to food packs.

Earlier attempts to introduce a simpler system prompted opposition from the food industry, including both retailers and manufacturers, describing the system as too simplistic.

However, the Food Standards Agency consulted over 2,600 people on four possible front-of-pack schemes and said its Multiple Traffic Light scheme, an improved version, came out on top for ease of use.

The scheme aims to show at a glance if food has high, medium or low levels of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.

A 12-week public consultation will now be held to decide if the option should be adopted on a voluntary basis by the industry, with ministers keen to launch the scheme by 2006.

The public will now be asked to decide between the traffic lights or a Colour Guideline Daily Amount (CGDA), which shows the nutritional content of foods in both figures and colours.

According to the FSA, although the CGDA was the most popular with consumers polled, a third of respondents from lower socio-economic and ethnic minorities groups were unable to use it.

The earlier and simpler traffic light system was rejected by consumers for being too basic.

However, as was the case with the 5-a-day logo, many retailers have already developed their own systems rather than wait for a government scheme.

Martin Patterson, deputy director general of the Food and Drink Federation, which opposed the initial concept, said "We're pleased that simplistic traffic lights have been thrown out by consumers, and that the majority of people chose Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs).

"The opportunity to develop GDAs for labelling shouldn't be missed. GDAs have been adopted by industry and are already widely in use."