The British Retail Consortium (BRC) held a lunchtime debate in the European Parliament on 4 October 2006, chaired by MEP Linda McAvan. Representatives from retailers such as Asda, Tesco, Marks & Spencers, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s were present in full force. DG SANCO, the European Consumer’s Association (BEUC) and several MEPs were also present.
The event aimed to present the initiatives of UK retailers in addressing the trend of rising obesity levels, which are summarised in the BRC publication "Healthy Options".
EPHA specifically asked UK retailers what they are intend to do about having nutritional profiles developed by independent bodies (See the full question in the attachment below).
The response of the retailer representatives to our question was unsatisfactory. Either the issue was left unanswered or, in the case of the Tesco rep, confused entirely with a separate labelling issue.
For organisations working on health issues, it is crucially important that nutritional profiles are developed by independent bodies, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and that all food actors (including manufacturers and retailers) are obliged by legislation to follow such profiles.
This nutritional profile could decide which products can bear health claims and which cannot, which foods can be advertised on TV to children and which cannot.
Related Links:
Food labelling in the EU: purposes, principles and challenges
Destroying myths and misunderstandings of the EU health claims Regulation
EFSA Conference on Health and Nutrition Claims, November 2006
