Faced with supply difficulties, food industry can temporarily modify their recipes without specifying it on the label, worries Friday 24 April the NGO Foodwatch, which calls on authorities and brands to be more transparent.
Foodwatch has discovered that the rules have been very relaxed for manufacturers. To the point that they are authorized to produce foodstuffs whose composition differs from what is indicated on the label. […] So how do we know what we are actually eating?
, asked the NGO in a press release.
Contacted by the AFP, the fraud prevention services (DGCCRF) confirm that they apply a punctual tolerance
on food labeling due to the health crisis.
Changes in the composition not indicated
In these exceptional circumstances, on a case-by-case basis
, products can be formulated slightly differently than usual or manufactured in a production site different from the usual site, without this being accurately reflected on their labeling
, details the DGCCRF.
Labeling changes are indeed impossible to satisfy in such a short period of time and the activity of packaging suppliers is itself affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
, adds state service.
It is a question of taking into account the difficulties of supply of raw materials of the industrialists and themajor imperative to supply supermarkets
, underlined to AFP Loïc Tanguy, spokesperson for the DGCCRF.
“Minor” changes
We are not going to prevent the marketing of a product because there is a temporary change in supply which means that the recipe has evolved a little
he continued, citing the example of an ingredient whose origin was stated on the label and which temporarily comes from elsewhere.
We are on minor modifications that will not endanger consumer safety
, especially allergic, he insisted.
Manufacturers must submit their changes to the DGCCRF which will say whether a change can be tolerated or not
, he said.
Questioned by Foodwatch, the DGCCRF plans to soon give the possibility of consulting the list of products concerned on its website.
We now want distributors and brands to be as transparent by widely disseminating detailed information on store shelves, on their sites and social networks.
, said Camille Dorioz of the NGO.
– .
