Savoury Snacks Industry Welcomes Agreement on Food Information
The European Snacks Association (ESA), representing savoury snack producers and their suppliers, welcomes the European Parliament’s decision to adopt a compromise proposal on food information to consumers. The ESA believe that both consumers and the food sector will benefit from the new Regulation.
The European Snacks Association (ESA), representing savoury snack producers and their suppliers, welcomes the European Parliament’s decision to adopt a compromise proposal on food information to consumers. The ESA believe that both consumers and the food sector will benefit from the new Regulation.
Firstly, ESA is encouraged by the endorsement of Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs). ESA has always supported the use of GDAs on-pack as the most objective way of providing consumers with clear and simple nutrition information that they need in order to make an informed choice. Nutrition education and information is the most efficient way to help consumers live healthier. Thus, ESA member companies have been rolling out GDA labelling across Europe. ESA now looks forward to working with the EU institutions as regards the implementation of this labelling scheme and sharing our expertise of meaningful portion sizes, which are the very basis of the GDA scheme.
Secondly, ESA welcomes the decision that the extension of mandatory origin labelling will be preceded by an impact assessment evaluating the need, feasibility and practicality of such an extension. Indeed, mandatory country of origin labelling fails to acknowledge the complex supply chains involved in the production of processed foods such as savoury snacks.
Any move to enforce mandatory origin provisions would add significant multi-million euro costs to the manufacturing operation and significantly impact on factory efficiencies, without adding any value for consumers. Going forward, ESA is committed to supporting the Commission impact assessment and sharing our industry’s experience with officials and stakeholders.
Overall, the final legislative text greatly enhances consumers’ access to vital information and increases consumer confidence. As a consumer-centric industry relying upon repeat purchase and hence consumer trust, the ESA are especially gratified at today’s decision of the European Parliament.
Source: European Snacks Association
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