EU defends food labelling plans

The European commission has hit back at claims by the food industry that its proposals on food labelling are “too rigid”.

The rebuttal comes as the executive is looking into ways of introducing better information on the content of foodstuffs.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Basil Mathioudakis, an official with the commission, defended its plans, saying, “It has been claimed that the proposals are too rigid and will act as a deterrent against innovation.

“I totally refute such allegations. The opposite is the case and, indeed, I hope the proposals will get agreement in first reading in parliament.”

Mathioudakis, a head of unit in the commission’s consumer protection directorate, was referring to plans announced by the commission in January to make it necessary to provide nutritional information on the front as well as the back of foodstuffs.

Addressing a packed meeting, he said the draft legislation would provide an “important tool” designed to inform consumers about the composition of everyday foods. This, in turn, may encourage a more healthy diet, he said.

Such information, including the amount of salt and fat in food products, was vitally necessary and consumers “are interested and want” such details, he told the meeting.

Another keynote speaker, Kees de Winter, a food policy advisor with BEUC, the European consumers’ association, also welcomed the move.

He pointed to research which, he said, showed that 80 per cent of consumers want improved nutritional information on the food products they buy.

He said, “BEUC welcomes the fact that, for the first time, mandatory nutrition declarations are being proposed in EU legislation.

“It is urgent that the EU takes action to allow consumers to make healthier food choices, especially as it is widely recognised that overweight, obesity and related diseases pose a serious public health problem.

“Studies show, in particular, that consumers are unhappy with the very small print of much nutritional information on foods.”

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