Welsh MEP calls for stricter labelling laws
Eluned Morgan is calling for stricter food labelling laws to prevent consumers being misled.
The issue is being discussed at the European Industry Committee.
The Welsh Consumer Council is backing calls for the laws on food labelling to be tightened. It is particularly terms such as "light" and "extra light" that are to be investigated by the committee and proposed laws on labelling will be discussed.
Ms Morgan said: "The strict food labelling laws already in place have come through European rules.
"We have, for example, the strictest GM labelling in the world. However, there are some loopholes that need closing.
"When a product claims to be low in fat - that means something.
"It means that the product must contain less than 3g of fat per 100g of food.
"When you claim something is `light` or `extra light` it also sounds very healthy - but it effectively means nothing.
"Even `extra light` Philadelphia contains 5g of fat per 100g of cream cheese for example. There is simply no legal definition for `light`."
She argued other labels could be equally misleading.
"`90% Fat Free` for example instantly hits you as a good thing, until you consider that the extra 10% could be pure fat.
"Supermarkets will also have to look carefully at their "healthy" ranges. In some cases this just means having less fat content, whilst salt and sugar levels are actually sometimes higher than the standard product," she added.
Lindsey Kearton, senior policy officer at the Welsh Consumer Council, is supportive of new measures.
"Most people don`t have the time or inclination to spend hours looking at labels when shopping for food.
"This means that they are more likely to be influenced by the more prominent, front-of-pack, information on food labels, which is frequently used to promote a product.
"At a time when people are being encouraged to take more responsibility for their own health, there needs to be greater transparency in the identification of `healthier` and `not so healthy` food."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4204125.stm
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