Brussels, 8 january 2004

European Community of Consumer Cooperatives

The European Heart Network

Alcohol related harm in Europe

The European Public Health Alliance

  Brussels, 8 January 2004 - Today, at a European Parliament Public Hearing on nutrition and health claims, EURO COOP, EHN, EPHA and Eurocare called on Members of the European Parliament to place public health and consumer protection at the core of future EU legislation on claims when they vote for the first time on the Commission proposal in plenary session end-March 2004.

   The alliance of consumer and public health NGOs urges MEPs to support the Commission proposal to prohibit nutrition and health claims made on foodstuffs with undesirable nutrient profiles, (i.e. foodstuffs high in fat, saturated fat, salt or sugar - such as soft drinks, biscuits, crisps and chocolate bars) and therefore to put a stop to consumers being misled.

   The consumer and public health groups warn that nutrition and health claims often portray fatty, sugary or salty food as "healthier" or "better" even though healthy eating advice is to cut down on fat and sugar. Eating too much of these nutrients is one of the factors leading to the rapid increase in obesity in Europe. Furthermore high intakes of fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar are a principal cause of an unnecessarily high burden of cancer, heart disease, strokes and diabetes1.

   NGOs call on the European Parliament to show leadership in ensuring that the paramount principle in EU policy on nutrition and health claims is the protection and promotion of public health. It is our firm conviction that nutrition and health claims should only be put on food products which constitute a healthier choice and which contribute to a healthier diet.

   For public health reasons, and to be consistent with the Council Recommendation of 5 June 2001 on the drinking of alcohol by young people - and in particular children and adolescents, NGOs also urge MEPs to maintain the proposed prohibition of any claims on beverages containing more than 1.2% alcohol by volume. We believe that claims should not be used to encourage consumers to drink alcoholic beverages.

   In addition to the Commission proposal, NGOs call on the European Parliament to ban claims directed exclusively or principally at children as these are no longer prohibited by the proposed Regulation. This is of particular concern due to rising levels of obesity amongst children of which increased consumption of unhealthy foods is a causative factor. A recent report by the British Food Standards Agency found a clear link between obesity and advertising of junk food. 2

  Consumer and public health NGOs are confident that the European Parliament will follow the Commission move to ban dubious claims. European consumers must be protected from misleading information on so-called "healthier" foodstuffs which in reality may have adverse effects on public health. Ends

1. World Health Organization. Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases, Report of a Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation. World Technical Report Series 916. Geneva: WHO, 2003.
2. Review of Research on the Effects of Food Promotion to Children, 25 September 2003, British Food Standards Agency