A comprehensive set of EU-wide recommendations seeks to streamline and enhance food and drink labelling throughout the bloc.
According to a report released by the European Court of Auditors (ECA), consumers have been left “vulnerable” to potentially unsafe foods and often receive confusing and inconsistent information regarding ingredients, nutrition, and general food and drink data.
“Food labels are meant to provide clarity, but can sometimes mislead [consumers],” stated ECA member Keit Pentus-Rosimannus.
While European Union food labelling regulations were recognized as “pioneering,” they have “not managed to keep up with developments on the market.” This has left consumers “lost in the supermarket,” struggling to interpret various claims and information, she emphasized during the report’s launch.
The report explored the systems in three member states and uncovered “worrying” gaps in the current Food Information to Consumers (FIC) regulation, alongside issues with enforcement and penalties across Europe.
Inconsistent voluntary labelling practices across member states included front-of-pack labelling and the definitions of vegetarian and vegan products.
Consequently, consumers might become adept at navigating labelling in one country only to face confusion upon crossing into another where systems differ.
“Nobody, including the Commission, has an overview of the hundreds of logos and schemes that are used [across member states]. No one is tracking them,” Pentus-Rosimannus continued.
Moreover, online retailers, particularly those based outside of the EU, pose specific risks. The ECA report emphasized the challenges in determining the safety of food and drinks from foreign online companies, especially given the rise of “suspicious food supplements,” added Pentus-Rosimannus.
The ECA presented five key recommendations to the European Commission aimed at addressing these issues:
Address the gaps in the EU legal framework for food labelling
The European Commission should tackle pending FIC actions related to botanical claims and precautionary allergen labelling, along with unresolved issues concerning alcohol origin labelling by the year 2027.
It is crucial for the EC to evolve labelling practices in food companies that add complexity and may confuse consumers.
Additionally, there is a pressing need to address the “multitude” of often “unsubstantiated” environmental claims that expose consumers to the risk of greenwashing.
Step up efforts to analyse labelling practices
Product labels must undergo regular, proactive analyses. Member states should enhance their guidance to food companies, clarifying expectations.
Both the EC and member states must better monitor consumer needs to ensure that labelling aligns with expectations, including consumer comprehension of label meanings.
This aligns with calls for increased funding for labelling information campaigns, with only €5.5 million allocated to food labelling awareness efforts across member states since 2021.
Monitor consumer expectations and take action to improve their understanding of food labelling
In collaboration with member states, the EC must “systematically” monitor consumer needs and comprehension of food labelling.
Supporting member states in improving consumer understanding of food labelling is essential—possible strategies could include awareness campaigns or guides detailing food labelling.
While all member states have mechanisms in place to verify compliance with food labelling regulations, these controls are not always current.
Mandatory checks work effectively for essential labelling elements. However, guidelines for voluntary labelling are “virtually non-existent,” as pointed out in the report.
Moreover, there are limited checks for online retail, despite its growing market share. “These checks are difficult to carry out when sales occur through EU-registered websites and nearly impossible when they involve non-EU countries,” it cautioned.
Strengthen member states’ checks on voluntary labels and online retail
Member states should be motivated to bolster their scrutiny of voluntary labels and online retail through comprehensive guidance.
Current labelling reporting frameworks are “cumbersome,” and their value remains unclear, even though member states report to the EC annually.
The report revealed that some member states fail to complete the EC’s reporting template thoroughly.
Additionally, clarity is lacking regarding the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed online application; information about which company or product is being flagged is not publicly available.
Improve reporting on food labelling
Enhancing the consistency of data reported by member states related to food labelling controls is crucial. Streamlining reporting arrangements is especially needed when updating the RAS for Food and Feed online application.
Efforts should also focus on improving data quality and increasing public information shared on food labelling issues through the RAS.
