Health-claims regulation ‘won’t go far enough’

Just like the food and drink industry, BEUC, the European consumers’ group, is worried about the future of the EU health-claims regulation. Unlike industry, BEUC is worried that the regulation will not go far enough.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently analysing the results of health studies to decide how much salt, sugar and fat should be allowed in products that make health and nutrition claims. The EFSA advice is due next January, with European Commission-proposals based on the EFSA findings expected about a year later.

"We really, really would like to see severe restrictions on the intensive promotion of foods high in sugar, salt or fat," said Jim Murray, BEUC director. "Without them it can be hard to be a good parent."

"Look at breakfast cereals," he said. "They can contain up to 40% sugar but still make nutritional claims. What will the cut-off point be for sugar?"

"Obviously something must be done. It is ludicrous to allow something that’s almost half sugar to sell itself because it might also contain some calcium."

Murray said it was a pity that a ban on advertising junk food to children had not been agreed under the Television Without Frontiers directive. In the absence of a ban, he said, BEUC hoped the claims legislation would go some way towards stopping manufacturers from encouraging families to buy "healthy" food.

"If we can’t deal with the volume of advertising," he said, "at least the regulation can affect the content."

He welcomed EFSA’s publication last Wednesday (16 May) of draft guidelines for the submission of health claims for authorisation. Interested parties have one month to comment on the draft. The final guidelines will show companies what information is needed for the assessment of a health claim by EFSA’s panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies (NDA).

Murray said that BEUC would be pushing for the maximum amount of information to be made compulsory, in reaction to industry claims that only minimal "indicative evidence" was needed.

He said there would be strong views and disagreements before either the health claims or nutritional profiles could be agreed.

"We’d be grateful if we could wave a magic wand, but sadly this will take years," said Murray. "Some things are over when they’re over: this is not over yet."

Just like the food and drink industry, BEUC, the European consumers’ group, is worried about the future of the EU health-claims regulation. Unlike industry, BEUC is worried that the regulation will not go far enough.