Pressure is rising for a new EU-wide labelling 'obligation' for processed or reformed meat products to be introduced after Germany kicked off a new round of debate about food labelling practices.
In a high-profile statement this month, the country's federal council criticised how processed meats were labelled, and said consumers needed to be absolutely clear about when they were buying 'naturally grown' meats or those formed mechanically. This could only be achieved by "clear, easily visible and comprehensible" labelling. "Because food is traded across borders in Europe, an EU-wide improvement in labelling is vital," it said.
Germany's call comes after the European Parliament earlier this year voted in favour of new rules that would require processed and reformed meats to carry a prominent, front-of-pack label saying 'formed meat made from combined meat pieces.' The parliament also blocked thrombin, an enzyme used to 'glue' meat pieces together, from being authorised as a food additive.
In the UK, packs say if a product has been formed mechanically, but there is no obligation at the moment to do so prominently.
Hilary Ross, a lawyer at Bond Pearce, said the debate about formed meats was part of wider discussions about how to label so-called 'imitation foods. ' The UK, where such foods were less common than on the Continent, had taken a "pragmatic view" on the issue to date allowing a ham and pineapple pizza made with formed ham to be called 'ham and pineapple' rather than 'formed ham and pineapple' pizza, for instance.
But such leeway might not necessarily exist in the future. The European Parliament's call for stricter labelling rules on processed meats will be boosted by the support of Germany and has already prompted the country's consumer minister to vow that she, too, will play her part in pushing for stricter rules on the labelling of processed meats.
In a high-profile statement this month, the country's federal council criticised how processed meats were labelled, and said consumers needed to be absolutely clear about when they were buying 'naturally grown' meats or those formed mechanically. This could only be achieved by "clear, easily visible and comprehensible" labelling. "Because food is traded across borders in Europe, an EU-wide improvement in labelling is vital," it said.
Germany's call comes after the European Parliament earlier this year voted in favour of new rules that would require processed and reformed meats to carry a prominent, front-of-pack label saying 'formed meat made from combined meat pieces.' The parliament also blocked thrombin, an enzyme used to 'glue' meat pieces together, from being authorised as a food additive.
In the UK, packs say if a product has been formed mechanically, but there is no obligation at the moment to do so prominently.
Hilary Ross, a lawyer at Bond Pearce, said the debate about formed meats was part of wider discussions about how to label so-called 'imitation foods. ' The UK, where such foods were less common than on the Continent, had taken a "pragmatic view" on the issue to date allowing a ham and pineapple pizza made with formed ham to be called 'ham and pineapple' rather than 'formed ham and pineapple' pizza, for instance.
But such leeway might not necessarily exist in the future. The European Parliament's call for stricter labelling rules on processed meats will be boosted by the support of Germany and has already prompted the country's consumer minister to vow that she, too, will play her part in pushing for stricter rules on the labelling of processed meats.
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