Misleading healthy food claim should be rejected by MEPs - Childers

Issued : Monday 30 January, 2012

 

Labour MEP Nessa Childers today urged fellow MEPs to reject the latest attempt by the food industry to mislead consumers.

"We need to be able to trust the health claims on the food we buy in the supermarket. Under EU law, claims such as 'reduced salt' or 'no added sugars' for example are regulated. We know we can trust that the packaging is truthful.

"But this new health claim wanted by the food industry will allow a 'now contains X% less' claim if energy, fat, saturated fat, salt/sodium or sugars have been reduced by a minimum of 15%. The current regulations demand a 30% minimum reduction to make such a "reduced" claim.

"We want the food industry to reduce fats, salts and sugars from their products, but this claim would be misleading. This claim will create confusion with the already authorised 'reduced' claim, which means a 30% reduction.

"There is no reason why the conditions for making legally binding health claims like 'reduced salt or sugar' should be watered down.

"Most consumers will not know the difference between 'reduced salt' and 'now with 15% less salt' and might wrongly assume that because the second claim is quantified, it is better.

"Shoppers take 4 seconds to decide whether to put a product in their shopping trolley or not. They don't have time to read the small print 'reduced from 50g to 40g' and compare this to similar products. Research shows shoppers are heavily influenced by health and nutrition claims, and products bearing them are viewed as 'healthy'.

"We want to encourage product reformulation to healthy options but it has to be a significant change and it has to meaningful and truthful to consumers."