Food Labelling Loopholes must be closed

As concerns grow about food labelling in the United Kingdom, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), has called for an immediate review of legislation to ensure that all loopholes are closed. 

The issue has come to light following two deaths resulting from poor food labelling by the food outlet Pret A Manger, with the coroner’s report into avoiding future deaths raising concerns that allergens were not “labelled adequately or clearly”.

It has also been reported that some Pret A Manger dishes labelled as “Vegetarian” contained pork sausages, and that their baguettes, labelled as “fresh”, were up to one year old and made and frozen in France.

The issue was raised in Parliament by Conservative MP Robert Halfon, who questioned whether the food chain was trying to “deceive” the British public and asked whether it constituted “fake labelling”.

Currently food labelling in the UK is governed by the Food Information Regulations 2014, which contain potential loopholes around the packaging of goods which have been packed on a food outlet’s premises.

Tony Lewis, Head of Policy at CIEH, said:

“Food safety is paramount. However, the main issue here is that Pret A Manger have done nothing illegal. The source of the problem is the current legislation that provides a number of loopholes and exceptions.

Pret A Manger, and others, have simply taken advantage of the flaws in a system that is clearly not fit for purpose.

We are calling for an immediate review of current legislation to close these loopholes and to ensure that food is properly labelled in this country.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

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About the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH):   

CIEH is the professional voice for environmental health representing 8,000 members working in the public, private and non-profit sectors. It ensures the highest standards of professional competence in its members, in the belief that through environmental health action people's health can be improved.

Environmental health has an important and unique contribution to make to improving public health and reducing health inequalities. CIEH campaigns to ensure that government policy addresses the needs of communities and business in achieving and maintaining improvements to health and health protection.

For more information visit www.cieh.org and follow the CIEH on Twitter.