MEPs vote to veto ‘meat glue’ additive approval

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave a positive opinion for the use of the enzyme preparation of thrombin and fibrogen, obtained from blood plasma, in 2005. Before it can be used on the EU, however, it has to be approved by the European Commission and added to the positive list of additives in annex IV of directive 95/2/EC.

The preparation can be used to connect separate pieces of reclaimed meat together, so that they appear to be one large slab. It is colloquially known as ‘meat glue’.

The European Commission has proposed that the preparation be approved, but the Parliament has a two month window to veto this if it sees fit. This veto right expires on May 30. Swedish MEP Åsa Westlund raised the objection in the Parliament’s Envi committee, and 31 committee members voted in favour of the objection. Twenty one members voted against, and there were no abstentions.

The objection stems from concerns that the, although the use of the enzyme as a processing aid would have to be labelled, there is a risk that consumers could be mislead into buying a slab of meat they believe has always been one slab, when in fact it comes from several different sources. The objecting MEPs believe there is no real benefit for the consumer.

The next step is for Parliament as a whole to vote on the objection. This is tabled to take place at the Strasbourg session 17 – 20 May. A majority of MEPs (more than 369) is required for the veto to be upheld.

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The enzyme preparation has been called Fibrimex, and is under the portfolio of Dutch ingredients company Sonec. It is already being offered to the industry on the US.

The original EFSA application was submitted by Harimex BV.

A call to Sonec for comment on the veto process was not returned in time for publication of this article.