EU plans more accurate labeling of food

No misleading health-related advertising for food in the future

05/18/2012

The European Commission approved a list in Brussels on Wednesday, which initially lists 222 health claims for foods that may be used after December 2012. This should be misleading advertising slogans like „Good for the immune system“ disappear from food packaging in the future. For consumers, this means more reliability in food information.

Manufacturers have half a year for more reliable health claims
The EU Commission wants to reach a decision that dubious, misleading advertising for food disappears from the product packaging and consumers can rely on the information. Products with packaging containing misleading advertising slogans, such as probiotic yoghurt boosting the immune system, may only be sold in supermarkets until December of this year. This is how long the manufacturers have time to correct the health-related packaging information in accordance with the specifications of the EU Commission.

The list is based on sound scientific evidence, the Commission said. The review of the sometimes misleading claims has been carried out by the European Food Safety Authority EFSA in Parma. Around 44,000 applications for authorization were submitted to the EU at the beginning of 2008. Since most of them overlapped, some applications could be summarized. Most, however, were rejected by the experts. Others are still under consideration. The list is accessible to the public on the internet and is to be continuously updated and supplemented.

The ban on unauthorized advertising claims must be enforced by the national authorities. Manufacturers have the option of requesting a review of the statements in dispute with EU testers. The European Parliament and the Member States have not objected to the list. The European consumer protection center BEUC and the German consumer ministry reacted in March very positively to the new regulation for the protection of consumers.

Strengthen consumer interests
The recent study presented by the Association of Consumer Organizations „Trends in food marketing“ has shown that consumers generally have an increasing interest in high quality standards as well as regionally and ecologically produced foods. However, confusing information on food packaging made many feel overwhelmed and would therefore resort to the most cost-effective product. The consumer advocates regard this as a market failure, which should be counteracted immediately. Consumer interests should generally have a higher weight. The later customers should be questioned before the introduction of food products to understand the information on packaging in order to prevent confusion and misleading statements, said the Association of Consumer Organizations. (Ag)

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Too much salt in ready meals
Success for consumer portal Food Clarity

Image: Thommy Weiss