If it isn't on the label...
confusing, and sometimes misleading labels on food products. The
results of its honest labelling campaign indicate that food
manufacturers have made little effort to improve their labels
despite pressure from consumer bodies.
The UK Consumers' Association (CA)'s honest food labelling campaign has revealed a range of confusing, and sometimes misleading labels on summer food products. The organisation claims that many food manufacturers have made little effort to improve their labels for consumers despite pressure from consumer bodies.
The CA singled out a number of products such as Ruby's Cranberry Soda, a cranberry and raspberry drink that claims it is 'outrageously fruity'. However, it contains only 5 per cent cranberry and 5 per cent raspberry with the main ingredients being water and sugar.
Similarly, Marks & Spencer's Gourmet Roquette and Parmesan salad has 45 per cent lettuce and only 12 per cent roquette. And Caribbean Twist's Pina Colada pictures coconuts on its label and describes itself as 'a tropical blend of exotic fruit' - but there is no mention of coconuts on the ingredient list and the only fruit it mentions is pineapple.
The consumer body also claimed that as a result of its naming and shaming campaign, several manufacturers have improved their labels. These include United Foods International, which has switched Cranberry and Apple on its Grove Fresh Juice label to Apple and Cranberry. This, the CA says, describes more clearly a product with only 7.5 per cent cranberry puree.
Jacob's has also agreed to remove its confusing '94 per cent fat-free claim' from its Fig Rolls packets, and Yeo Valley organic Crème Fraiche has removed the word 'healthy' from its packaging and replaced it with the word 'healthier' to reflect the 17.5 per cent fat content.
"Yet again we have exposed how current laws leave food manufacturers free to abuse consumers by printing enticing labels that are not always clear, may be confusing and sometimes distort the truth," said Sheila McKechnie, Consumers' Association director. "We are delighted that some companies are improving their labels but we will continue to name and shame until we have stronger legislation and companies clean up their acts."
At present there is no legal obligation for manufacturers to provide full nutritional information or for health claims to be substantiated before they are used on foods. CA has therefore broadly welcomed the European Commission's draft proposals for nutrition, functional and health claims and is calling on the EU to stand up for consumers and support the proposals.
The draft proposals would prohibit 'per cent fat free' claims, such as '90 per cent fat free' and establish criteria for other nutrition claims such as 'low fat' and 'light'. They would also prohibit complicated claims which are true but meaningless.
The CA has expressed disappointment however that the proposals do not contain provisions designed to prevent manufacturers from making health claims on products that are high in fat, sugar and salt and therefore contradict healthy eating advice.
Two briefings on this issue, 'Food labels: the hidden truth' and 'Summer foods: bad labels' are available online.
