77% of public want food labelling

MORE than three-quarters of the public want more labelling on foods, according to a MRBI survey.

The research shows 77% of people are demanding tougher labelling laws that will ensure consumers know the origin of foods.

The survey carried out for the Retail Intelligence website asked more than 1,000 consumers if they wanted products to display a “country of origin” label.

An overwhelming majority of 77% agreed the law should be changed immediately to give the public more

information about the foods they purchase.

However, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) deputy CEO, Alan Reilly, said it’s “not practical” to list all details on labels.

Mr Reilly said some processed products contained ingredients from 15 countries and it’s impossible to name each country on small labels.

“Consumers should have as much information on labels as possible, and should not be misled, but naming the country of origin for all products is not practical,” he said.

Mr Reilly said potatoes grown in Cyprus but processed as chips here can legally carry a “made in Ireland” label. Fish is the only product where a country of origin tag is required.

But the Consumers’ Association of Ireland (CAI) has backed the call for increased labelling.

“People are entitled to know this information and it’s up to the food processors to provide it.

And the Government must become stricter in their monitoring of this important area,” CAI chief executive Dermot Jewell said.

Consumer organisations are also calling for shops’ own-label products to include details of the company that produces the goods.

One in five grocery goods purchased here are produced by a shop’s own label.

Last year, a report on food labelling compiled for the Minister for Agriculture and Food Joe Walsh recommended misleading claims on food labels be banned.

The report by the Food Labelling Group said examples of misleading claims included: “fat-free,” “light” and “natural.”

Research has shown some foods popular with weight-watchers may contain more fat than non-dieting products.

The Food Labelling Group said consumers should be provided with information on any allergic substances in a food they buy.

The report also recommended that imported foods which are processed in Ireland can be described as Irish.