MEPs reject ‘traffic-light’ warnings for food

Efforts to introduce colour-coded 'traffic light' warnings on food were rejected by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on the 16 June 2010, who instead backed a system favoured by industry.

The first reading vote marked a decisive victory for food companies in a regulatory battle that has pitted the likes of Nestlé, Kraft and Danone against European consumer groups, and featured complaints of misinformation and excessive lobbying.

ESO: Background information: Health group calls for ‘usable’ information on food http://www.europeansources.info/record/health-group-calls-for-usable-information-on-food/

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-regulation-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-on-the-provision-of-food-information-to-consumers/

European Parliament: Press Release, 16.6.10: MEPs set out clearer and more consistent food labelling rules http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/067-76128-165-06-25-911-20100615IPR76127-14-06-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm

BBC News, 16.6.10: EU votes on standard food labels http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10327312.stm

BEUC: Press Release: PR/2010/010 (16.6.10): Food Industry 1 – 0 Consumers http://www.beuc.org/BEUCNoFrame/Docs/8/BBNKJOPBKKJCDFNNDAGHMNEOPDWD9DB6EN9DW3571KM/BEUC/docs/DLS/2010-00366-01-E.pdf

Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIIA): Press Release, 16.6.10: Manufacturers welcome positive vote to empower consumers to make more informed food choices http://www.ciaa.be/asp/documents/detailed_doc.asp?doc_id=906

Corporate Europe Observatory: Press Release, 11.6.10: A red light for consumer information – the food industry’s €1-billion campaign to block health warnings on food http://www.corporateeurope.org/lobbycracy/content/2010/06/red-light-consumer-information

EUFIC: Use and understanding of nutrition information on food labels in six European countries, 2009 http://www.eufic.org/upl/1/default/doc/GDApaperJPubHealth.pdf

EurActiv, 17.6.10: Food industry wins battle on 'traffic light' labels http://www.euractiv.com/en/food-industry-wins-battle-traffic-light-labels-news-495324

Deutsche Welle, 16.6.10: European Parliament turns down 'traffic light' nutrition labeling system http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5691318,00.html

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