Tough? Not tough enough, says UK watchdog on EU health claim rules

Industry has become accustomed to feeling annoyed and hamstrung by the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation, but UK consumer watchdog Which? told a conference today that the rules should be even more closely enforced to help baffled consumers.

“We’ve wanted to have effective controls over health and nutrition claims for many years. We’ve repeatedly done research where we have found problems and have been concerned that people could be misled,” said Sue Davies, Which? chief food policy advisor.

“People that have been motivated to make healthier choices and then find out that they are wasting their money on products that aren’t really healthy.”

Only now that the  regulation’s major claims list is about to become law will consumers really be able to see products bearing genuine and not bogus claims, she opined.