The Keyhole symbol

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The Swedish National Food Agency’s keyhole symbol is there to help consumers identify the healthier options when buying food.

The keyhole is a food label that identifies healthier food products within a product group. Choosing foods with the keyhole symbol makes it easier and less time consuming to find healthier products in food stores. Foods labelled with the keyhole symbol contain less fat, sugars and salt and more fibre than food products of the same type not carrying the symbol.

The keyhole was established in Sweden in 1989 and has now become a common Nordic label for healthier food products in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

The keyhole system shall stimulate manufactures to product reformulation and development of healthier products.

On this page

Fat, sugars, salt and dietary fiber

Why choose foods with the keyhole symbol?

Who can eat foods with the keyhole symbol?

What foods can be labelled with the keyhole symbol?

Foods with the keyhole symbol

Fat, sugars, salt and dietary fiber

Most people in Sweden eat the wrong kinds of fat - too much sugar and salt and too small amounts of dietary fibre. Foods labelled with the keyhole symbol contain less fat, have a healthier fat composition, contain less sugars and salt and more dietary fibre than other foods of the same type. Cereal products must contain a certain amount of whole grain. For example, bread labelled with the symbol contain more dietary fibre and whole grain but less fat, salt and sugars than bread not carrying the symbol.

The keyhole system has a set of criteria for 25 product groups. Before the keyhole became a Nordic cooperation, the countries improved the criteria and added new product groups for sandwiches, pizza and wraps and oils. The Swedish National Food Agency has registered the keyhole as a trademark and the labelling system is enforced through a regulation in all of the three countries.

Why choose foods with the keyhole symbol?

The lifestyle we choose affects our health. By eating healthier foods and taking more exercise we can reduce our risk of developing obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, certain forms of cancer and osteoporosis. Eating a healthy diet also reduces the risks of dental caries and constipation.

Who can eat foods with the keyhole symbol?

Foods labelled with the keyhole symbol are suitable for all healthy individuals - adults, teenagers and children. Products intended for children up to the age of three years must not be labelled with the keyhole. Foods carrying the keyhole symbol are not “diet foods” but are intended for everyone who wants to eat a healthy diet.

What foods can be labelled with the keyhole symbol?

Packed foods eligible to carry the keyhole symbol must fulfil certain conditions specified by the authorities in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Fish and seafood, fruits, vegetables and potatoes can be labelled without packaging. These conditions - regarding how much fat, sugars, salt and dietary fibre may be present in foods with the keyhole symbol - are based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, which are founded on scientific research.

Different conditions apply to different groups of foods. Anyone choosing a food product with the keyhole symbol knows that it is a healthier option than corresponding products that are not allowed to carry this symbol. For example, cheese with the keyhole symbol contains less fat and salt than cheese not qualified for the keyhole. Products with the keyhole have to be accompanied with nutritional facts.

Foods with the keyhole symbol

The keyhole is a voluntary label. Food producers are themselves responsible for ensuring that foods with the keyhole symbol conform to National Food Agency regulations.

Below is a list of examples of different products that may be labelled with the keyhole symbol. For further information on the regulations regarding different foods, see directive LIVSFS 2009:6 via the link on the right of this page.

Dairy products

Dairy products with the keyhole symbol contain less fat, saturated fat, salt and sugars than corresponding products not labelled with the symbol.

Examples of dairy products carrying the keyhole symbol:

skimmed milk, low fat milk or natural yoghurt (maximum 0.7% fat)
flavoured low fat yoghurt (maximum 0.7% fat and 9% sugars)
low fat alternatives to cream and crème fraiche (maximum 5% fat, 5% sugars and 0,1 g sodium)
fresh cheese, for example cottage cheese (maximum 5% fat and 0.35 g/100 g sodium)
other cheese, for example hard cheese and margarine cheese (maximum 17% fat and 0.5 g/100 g sodium)

Flavoured yoghurt that contains sweeteners cannot carry the keyhole.

Low fat spread, margarine and oils

Low fat spread/reduced fat margarine with the keyhole symbol may contain a limited amount of salt and a maximum of 41% fat. A maximum of one third of the fat may be saturated fat and products shall not contain more than 0.5 g sodium per 100 grams.

Oils and floating margarine eligible for the Keyhole may not contain more than 20% saturated fat of the total fat content. Products in this category must contain less than 0.5 g sodium per 100 grams.

Meat and processed meat products

Whole meat and minced meat with the keyhole symbol may contain maximum 10% fat. This limit also applies to processed meat products, with or without gravies, such as sausages, meatballs, hamburgers, cold cuts, liver paste and black pudding. Processed meat products may not contain more than 5% sugars. A maximum content of sodium shall be set at the next revision of the criteria.

Fish and shellfish

All types of fresh or frozen fish, both lean and oily, may carry the keyhole symbol. The reason is that fish contain beneficial fats that most people need to eat in greater amounts. Examples of lean fish are cod and haddock, while mackerel and salmon are oily fish. Unprocessed shellfish, such as prawns, mussels and crab can also be labelled.

Processed fish and shellfish may contain maximum 10% fat and 5% sugars. A maximum content of sodium shall be set at the next revision of the criteria.

Vegetarian products

Vegetarian alternatives to milk, for example oat, soya and rice drinks, may contain maximum 1.5% fat and 5% sugars. A maximum of one third of the fat may be saturated fat. Products shall not contain sweeteners. Vegetarian alternatives to cream and crème fraiche may contain maximum 5% fat.

Meat, fish and shellfish substitutes that are made solely from vegetable products, for example soya or Quorn, may contain maximum 10% fat and 5% sugars.

Bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, flour and wholemeal

Bread carrying the keyhole symbol must have higher fibre content than bread not eligible for the symbol, and may only contain less than 7% of fat and 5% sugars. Bread may not contain more than 0.5 g sodium per 100 grams. Cereal products have to contain a certain amount of whole grain.

Pasta with the keyhole symbol must contain a certain amount of fibre and at least 50% whole grain.

Breakfast cereals and muesli must contain a certain amount of fibre and whole grain, maximum 13% sugars, 7% fat and a limited amount of salt if they are to be labelled with the keyhole symbol.

Flour, flakes and wholemeal must contain a certain amount of fibre and whole grain. This also applies for porridge meal, porridge powder and gruel powder, which have additional restrictions on fat and salt content.

Ready meals

Ready meals, intended to constitute a main meal, labelled with the keyhole symbol must contain between 400 and 750 kcal per portion. Maximum 30% of the energy content may come from fat. The amount of sugars (maximum 3 grams per 100 grams) and salt (maximum 0.4 grams sodium per 100 grams) is also limited. Such meals must contain at least 25 grams of root vegetables (excl. potatoes), legumes and other vegetables and/or fruit per 100 grams.

In pies (except dessert pies), pizzas, pirogi and soups with the keyhole symbol, maximum 30% of the energy content may come from fat and the amount of sugars (maximum 3 grams per 100 grams) and salt (maximum 0.4 grams sodium per 100 grams) is limited.

Sandwiches and wraps may contain maximum 3 g sugars/100 g and 0.4 g sodium/100 g. The cereal part has to have a certain content of whole grain. Products in this category must contain more vegetables (excl. potatoes), legumes and/or fruits and a maximum of 30% of the energy content may come from fat.

Potatoes and vegetables

Potatoes, root vegetables, leguminous plants and other vegetables which have not undergone any form of processing; however, they may have been seasoned, blanched, dried, refrigerated, deep-frozen or defrosted. Processed products in this category must contain maximum 0.2 g sodium and 1 g sugars per 100 grams.