Consumer body attacks EU decision on food data

DESPITE increasing worries about obesity, members of the European Parliament have voted to all but hide information about the quantity of salt, sugar and fats in foods.

A few months ago they voted against having the “traffic light” system that has been proven to be the most popular and easily understood among consumers.

Yesterday, they decided that information should be hidden away on the back of packs in the less easily understandable form.

BEUC, the European consumer organisation lamented the decision as a lost opportunity saying it will force shoppers to search packs for the information they want.

“It goes against all evidence of what works best for consumers when trying to make healthy choices, particularly as the fight against obesity is becoming a public health priority,” said Monique Goyens, head of BEUC.

Labour MEP Nessa Childers, a member of the health and environment committee that took the vote, said she was very disappointed. “People need to be able to know what’s in their food quickly and easily so they can make healthy choices.”

Now only calories will be on the front of the pack with eight other nutritional categories on the back.

And alcohol and alcopops will continue to be exempt from giving nutritional information on their labels.

Consumer and other groups have been pushing for easily understood information on how much fat, saturated fats, salt and sugar is contained in foods, especially processed products.

But a massive lobbying effort by some international food giants ensured members of the health and environment committee voted it out yesterday.

The MEPs did, however, agree that consumers should know exactly where food comes from and extended country of origin labelling to all meat, not just beef as originally proposed. It should also be shown for products used as an ingredient in processed foods, fresh fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products.

BEUC welcomed the fact that they agreed a minimum font size to ensure the information can be read more easily.

Now the parliament and council will begin negotiations to reach agreement on the areas that divide them. A full vote by the MEPs will take place in July.