91997E4071

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4071/97 by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission (14 January 1998)

Subject: Nutritional labelling

Given the high percentage of pre-packed foods on sale in some countries, does the Commission accept that if consumers wish to choose a healthy diet, full nutritional labelling is essential for all pre-packed foods and that labels should include information on at least: energy, protein, carbohydrate, sugars, fat, saturates, fibre and sodium?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (30 January 1998)

Under current Community legislation on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs ((OJ L 276, 6.10.1990. )) laid down in Directive 90/496/EEC, information on the eight elements mentioned can be given voluntarily and is compulsory in certain circumstances stipulated therein.

The Commission had raised the subject and invited comments on the revision of the nutrition labelling directive in its green paper on food law published in May 1997 ((COM(97) 176 final. )). The Commission is currently evaluating these comments but has not yet reached any conclusions on the specific issue raised.