Confusing food labels: warning from the European Court of Auditors

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 11. 27. 11:45

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Food labels, logos and claims are supposed to inform consumers, but in practice they can often be confusing and even misleading, according to a new report by the European Court of Auditors. Current EU legislation does not keep pace with constantly changing market trends, leaving consumers vulnerable, warned Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the Member of the Court of Auditors responsible for the audit.

Food companies are using labelling options in increasingly creative ways to make their products more attractive. In addition to mandatory elements such as allergens, ingredients or nutrition labelling, voluntary elements such as animal welfare or environmental claims are appearing, which can often be considered greenwashing.

In some cases, the scientific basis of claims promoting the positive effects of foods on health is also questionable. While there is an EU list of permitted claims for vitamins and minerals, the assessment of over 2,000 claims for herbal substances has been delayed since 2010.

The report also highlights that under current rules, even products with a high fat, sugar or salt content can still claim their nutritional value. For example, a product with a high sugar content could be labelled as “rich in vitamin C”, which could be misleading for health-conscious consumers.