“Super” News on Food Labeling!
Goji Berries
At last some good news on the nutritional labeling front! From Sunday 1st July 2007, all products making a claim, such as “superfoods,” “good for heart,” or “helps lower cholesterol,” will be banned under new EU rules, unless the claim is relevant and authorised. Spokeswomen from the Food Standards Agency points out, “This way the consumer knows why this food is healthy.”
Another great aspect of this new legislation is that nutritional claims, such as “low in salt,” or “light” will have to meet a set definition, which has been agreed by the EU. If a food states that it is “low in salt,’”but is also high in fat, for example, they will have to make this fact clear on the label as well.
The new law will be enforced in all EU nations. There will however, be a transition period giving shops enough time to comply with the new rules. Therefore, it will probably be some time before we start to see changes at the supermarket.
Let’s hope they can get the labeling system right at last! Kevin Hawkins of the British Retail Consortium, has pointed out his concern that the new legislation may led to customers being “Denied nutrition and health messages they find valuable,” or that it could “Compromise innovation of healthier products.” Lets hope that this won’t be the case. Hopefully, those living in EU nations will begin to see the benefits very soon.
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