Several of the ideas discussed in the paper could impact the food industry - they include clearer food labelling and improving the nutritional content of school and office meals.

The paper also raises the debate over advertising of high sugar, salt or fat products at children, and asks whether nutrient profile scoring systems could improve consumer awareness of healthy foods.

Green papers are intended to open discussion on specific EU policy areas, with organisations and individuals invited to participate in the debate. In some cases they lead to subsequent legislation.

The Commission says that 14 million Europeans are obese or overweight, of which more than 3 million are children. Obesity-related illnesses, which include heart disease and diabetes, account for up to 7 per cent of healthcare costs in the Union.

Although the paper says industry self-regulation could be best, the paper also asks whether it is enough to limit the advertising and marketing of energy-dense and micronutrient poor foods.

"What would be the alternatives to be considered if self-regulation fails?" it says.

A public consultation on the paper will run until 15 March 2006, and a report summarising the contributions will be published on the Commission's website by June 2006.

The Commission said it "will reflect upon the most appropriate follow-up, and will consider any measures that may need to be proposed, as well as the instruments for their implementation".