The Food Standards Agency has published
new guidance for manufacturers, caterers and enforcement authorities
to improve food labelling for vegans and vegetarians.
The guidance, drawn up after consultation with a range of stakeholders
including The Vegetarian Society and The Vegan Society, will provide
criteria for the use of the terms 'vegetarian' and 'vegan' on food
labels for the first time.
There are approximately 3.5 million vegetarians and 0.25 million
vegans in the UK. The guidance should make it easier for these consumers
to
identify the products that are suitable for them. It aims to improve consistency in the use of the terms on food labels
by manufacturers and caterers and help enforcement agencies to identify
misleading labelling.
The guidance should also help to prevent some common mistakes by companies
such as labelling drink or food that has been derived from animal products
or fish as suitable for 'vegans' and 'vegetarians'.
Dr Richard Harding, Head of the FSA’s Consumer Choice, Food
Standards and Special Projects Division said:
" There has been a lot
of confusion over the use of the terms "vegetarian" and "vegan" on
food labels both in the retail and catering sectors. The root cause
of the problem seems to be the lack of agreed criteria. The guidance
aims to improve consistency by providing criteria for the use of these
terms in food labelling."
Tina Fox, Chief Executive of The Vegetarian Society said:
" We all
want to know what we are eating and misleading labelling makes it
particularly difficult for Britain's three million plus vegetarians
and vegans to
make informed choices.
_ In the continuing absence of a
definition of these terms in law, The Vegetarian Society sincerely
hopes that
the FSA's guidance is widely
taken up by manufacturers, caterers, retailers and local enforcement
authorities."
George Rodger, Chair of The Vegan Society said:
" As more and more
foods have become available in packaged form, vegans have had to
become accustomed to reading long lists of ingredients to see whether
or not
a product is suitable for them.
_ The new food-labelling guidance
from the Food Standards Agency will make things so much easier. If
a product is labelled ‘suitable
for vegans’ in accordance with this guidance, they need look
no further."
News
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those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released
by the Food Standards Agency (UK) on 06 April 2006. For further information,
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