Since the beginning of 2014 a new regulation about the contents, the origin traceability and the labeling of the foods was enforced in the European Union. It enables people to be better informed and make a healthier choice when buying food products. This issue is extremely relevant in times when globalization places food industry in a very competitive environment. Agrarian products and foods are delivered across the whole globe freely and the competition for lower prices results in the launching of new modern technologies which replace one substance with another, yet often less unhealthy. A whole set of E- markings noting components and ingredients which are usually examined closely also appeared. Practically, the consumers find it harder to grasp the entire information, written usually in small print, in order to fit on the label.

Bulgarian MEP Antonia Parvanova who actively participated in the process of adoption of the last European regulation in this sphere regrets the fact that the EU has rejected the implementation of the so-called “traffic light” food labeling. The idea envisaged that a red, green or a yellow circle placed on the label should mark the quantity of salt, sugars, fat content (including unsaturated fats in a certain product) in correlation to a healthy daily amount.

“The color coding system is designed for those citizens who do not wish to put efforts into calculating daily amounts or comparing contents in various products”, says Mrs. Parvanova. The red, green or yellow labels would allow people to become aware of the recommended daily amount of unsaturated fats, salt and sugar with just one look at the certain product.

The system appeared first in the UK where it became very popular. However, it faced strong rivals. Italy insisted that the European institutions should ban this system with the argument that it hinders the free movement of items and goods in the European Community. In fact, each new regulation in the food sphere is a result of a heavy dispute. The food industry with its annual output amounting to EUR 750 billion stands on one side of the barricade. Over half a billion consumers stand on the other side. “I have never seen stronger lobbies in the EU than the ones of the tobacco and the food industry”, comments Antonia Parvanova.

As a result of this lobbying and the new European regulation about the contents and the labeling of food products, people will remain unaware whether they eat meat from cloned animals, honey from genetically-modified pollen, sweeteners such as aspartame and unsaturated fats. The latter also called partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are widely used nowadays, because the products made of these fats are much cheaper and last longer. We can find them everywhere - in margarines, in various types of mayonnaise, vegetable creams, confectionary, deep-fried potatoes, crisps and even chocolates where unsaturated fats replace real butter. Since 1990 scientific researches have been proving the harmful effect of the unsaturated fats which increase the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood and hide various risks of cardiovascular illnesses and diabetes.

The proposal reading that a warning about unsaturated fats must appear on all food labels was abandoned during the development of the European food regulation. However, the EU allows the states to adopt such a practice. This issue is currently very topical in Bulgaria.

“I think that the Food Safety Agency in Bulgaria should oblige the food industry to inform about the contents of unsaturated fats on all food labels”, contends Dr Parvanova.

A proposal reading that unsaturated fats should be banned in all child foods is currently gaining support in the social networks. 

English version: Kostadin Atanasov