Brussels wants to scrap labels saying 'Made in Britain'

 

Last updated at 09:27am on 21st November 2007 Comments (32)

Ministers were last night under pressure to reject an attempt by Brussels to scrap 'Made in Britain' food labels.

 

Proposals to switch to a Europe-wide 'Made in the EU' labelling system will be discussed by the European Commission next month.

 

The scheme provoked outrage at Westminster, with the Tories pledging to save the traditional British labels on foods ranging from Stilton to Marmite.

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Quality mark: But food labels like this could be outlawed

 

 

If implemented it would leave British consumers unable to tell where the contents of their shopping basket come from in the EU.

 

The rule would apply even if the final product is based on imported foodstuffs.

 

Only meat would be exempt, so that goods such as Danish bacon and Parma ham could be identified by their origin.

 

Westminster sources indicated that Gordon Brown, who has made no secret of his dislike of Brussels bureaucracy, is likely to veto the idea.

 

Europe Minister Jim Murphy told MPs Britain would fight the proposal, which was put forward by Cypriot health commissioner Markos Kyprianou.

 

The Tories were outraged by the plan. Europe spokesman Mark Francois said: 'British farmers are under enough pressure as it is without the EU obscuring what food comes from Britain and what doesn't.

 

'If British consumers want to support British farmers, they have a right to know the food was produced here.'

 

The leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, said: 'It's time to become like the French and ignore this stupid EU law.'

 

The idea of an EU-wide labelling scheme was first put forward three years ago.

 

But it was ditched after an outcry from politicians and business leaders across the EU, who warned it would deal a hammer blow to traditional food manufacture.

 

Dutch Labour MEP Dorette Corbey warned the EU labels could also prevent consumers from establishing how far their food has travelled from producer to shop.

 

'The trend is to look at where a product originates from,' she said.

'Transport over long distances is bad for the environment.'

 

The plan, which is due to be published in December, was leaked yesterday to Dutch media. Politicians there also criticised the proposal, calling it 'too general' and bad for the environment.

 

A similar plan in 2004 was quashed by Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, on the grounds it was unnecessary and too costly.

 

The 'Made in the EU' plan is part of a package of proposals on labelling designed to give consumers more information on food content such as the levels of salt and fat.

 

Brussels gave up the fight in September to make Britain drop pints, pounds and miles in favour of the metric system.

 

But Britain's growing wine industry is now also under threat. Just as the popularity of English wine is soaring, the European Commission wants to limit the planting of new vineyards for the next six years.

 

The rules would punish countries whose wine industry is expanding, such as Britain.

Just another step towards the United States (of Europe)

I'm sure they are just doing this to rub our faces in it - and piss us off.

 

What stupid plans.

Just another step towards the United States (of Europe)

Except that I don't think that the Feds meddle in individual states buisness that much. :stunned: It's like they're making rules just to remind people they exist.

 

Don't know about opinions over there, but over here it would be alot less confusing if labels still said where in the EU something came from. So many important things are so country specific. It wouldn't be the same.

Yeah, I think it's important for products to have their true origins on the labels.

 

If I want to buy British then I damn well will! I don't think simply "Made in the EU" is good enough.

 

They might aswell have "made somewhere, on Earth"

Seriously... "Belgian chocolate" (actually made in Poland... or Sweden... or somewhere else random)

 

Can you just imagine?

Yeah.

 

Plus, some countries in Europe have banned harmful E-Numbers from foods, while other have not.

 

Now - I've made the important stand of not killing myself with such additives and if I don't know where foods are coming from then it makes it more difficult to tell - other than remembering lots of E numbers or their real names.

 

This is slighty off topic but it has to do with my point. (All the E number problems are in BOLD text )

 

 

The other day I ate a vanilla flavour Liegeois Dessert made by Schweyer which I bought in a supermarket. It's sold in a plastic container with some custard-type stuff, topped with 'cream' and has a foil lid - just to describe it.

 

Anyway...

 

After I'd finished this cheap excuse for a real dessert I had I quick look at the ingredients. (this is where most of you proabably know the rubbish in foods and it's my own fault, I know)

 

I wrote down the 'E' number additives and checked them out on the UkFoodGuide website.....

 

E407 - Carrageenan

 

Carrageenan is a naturally occurring family of carbohydrates extracted from red seaweed...Used in salad dressings, prepared meat and fish, flavoured milk, processed cheese, ice cream, evaporated milk, cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, infant formula, alcoholic beverages, sauces and dressings.

Known adverse effects include gastrointestinal ulcers (but it is also used to treat ulcers in humans) liver damage, effects on the immune system and it is suspected to cause cancer.

The type of carrageenan that can be added to food in the EU is very specific. It must not be in a chemically degraded (hydrolysed) form. A recent review of animal studies suggested that degraded carrageenan may be associated with cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. But comparable evidence does not exist in humans. The Food Standards Agency in the UK is currently carrying out toxicological research on carrageenan and is developing a method to measure levels of this additive in food.

http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e407.htm

 

E412 - Guar gum

 

Also called guaran, it is extracted from the seed of the leguminous shrub Cyamopsis tetragonoloba

 

In the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry Guar gum is used as an effective binder, stabiliser, disintegrator and thickener. Widely used in bakeries, diaries and the production of processed meat, dressings and sauces.

Guar is also widely used in tobacco, leather, insecticides and pesticides, crayons and adhesives amongst others.

Known adverse effects are flatulence, diarrhoea, abdominal distension and intestinal obstruction.

http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e412.htm

 

E472b - Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, lactoglycerides.

 

Widely used especially in fats, bakery products & whipped toppings.

currently included in low calorie spreads, peanut butter and ice cream to control their texture, starch based foods such as macaroni, noodles, potato products and in the bakery industry.

Found in Cadburys mousse deserts, Marks & Spencer Strawberry Trifle and Mullerlight mousse.

There is concern in some quarters that E472b and E472c may be carcinogenic.

http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e472b.htm

 

E104 - Quinoline Yellow, FD&C Yellow No.10

 

The disodium salt of disulphonic acid.

A synthetic 'coal tar' dye varying in colour between a dull yellow and greenish-yellow. Found in ices, scotch eggs and smoked haddock.

FD&C Yellow No.10; used in lipsticks hair products, colognes; also in a wide range of medications; may cause dermatitis.

Not recommended for consumption by children.

Whilst being a commonly used colour in the UK its use is banned in Australia, Japan, Norway and the United States.

http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e104.htm

 

E110 - Sunset Yellow, FCF Orange Yellow S, FD&C Yellow 6

 

A synthetic 'coal tar' and azo yellow dye used in fermented foods which must be heat treated. Found in orange squash, orange jelly, marzipan, Swiss roll, apricot jam, citrus marmalade, lemon curd, sweets, hot chocolate mix and packet soups, breadcrumbs, cheese sauce, ice cream, canned fish, and many medications.

Side effects are urticaria (hives), rhinitis (runny nose), nasal congestion, allergies, hyperactivity, kidney tumors, chromosomal damage, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, distaste for food; increased incidence of tumors in animals.

It appears to cause allergic and/or intolerance reactions, particularly amongst those with an aspirin intolerance.

Not recommended for consumption by children.

]The Hyperactive Childrens Support Group belive that a link exists between this additive and hyperactive behavioural disorders in children.

Whilst being a commonly used colour in the UK its use is banned in Norway and Finland.

http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e110.htm

 

E171 - Titanium dioxide

 

Titanium dioxide is extracted from the naturally occurring mineral Ilmenite, (named after the Ilmen Mountains in Russia), an iron-black, heavy, metallic oxide mineral, composed of iron and titanium oxide.

Can be found in tablets and capsules, cottage and Mozzarella cheeses, horseradish cream and sauces, lemon curd, toothpaste, and white paint, also in sweets where it is often used to provide a barrier between different colours. Used to increase opacity in some sauces.

 

Banned in Germany.

]No adverse effects are known.

Pollutes waterways.

http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e171.htm

 

I bet that did me the world of good. :stunned:

All this in one tiny dessert - and this is probably nothing compared to other products, I know.

Plus "not recommended for consumption by children"!!??!!!?? Jesus.

It's safe to say that I'm never having another.

Bloody hell.