2 CRAFTBUTCHER l JUNE 2019
ALLERGEN LABELLING
FULL INGREDIENT LABELLING ON THE WAY FOR PRE-PACKS?
COMMENT
Is the future digital? If someone can use an App to order a meal, book a holiday or market their business, is it so difficult to use digital technology elsewhere?
Since the Regulating our Future programme was first introduced, NCB has often questioned but is always supportive of modern technology and alternative methods to improve efficiencies in food safety and reform official controls.
CCTV monitors welfare and specialist providers sell systems that accurately record information 24-7, 365 days a year, reducing paperwork and duplication, that can be retrieved whenever necessary as a management tool or a control. So, what’s the problem?
The problem is everything takes too much time. BREXIT and now the Tory leadership election are paralysing Government delaying reforms with welfare, in prisons or education but also within the meat industry.
Paul Hobbs says, “human behaviour cannot be standardised or protected by technology” but with shortages of skills and labour, do we have a choice? n
ROGER KELSEY Editor
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The Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board decided in May to advise ministers that new legislation should be introduced to require all ingredients and allergens to be listed on pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) foods.
It seems unlikely that Michael Gove, who will make the final decision, will go against the FSA advice. Given that he has already promised that he will take firm action on this issue to the parents of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse. Natasha tragically died in 2016 from an allergic reaction to sesame in a Pret a Manger baguette.
support full ingredients listing either and pointed out that a change of this scale would require significant additional resources in order to properly enforce. However, 73% of the 1,625 individuals who responded to the consultation favoured full labelling for all businesses and did not see why small businesses should be exempt.
NCB did state that craft butchers recognised their responsibilities and were keen to improve allergen information but felt this would be better done by concentrating on customer dialogue and enhancing existing requirements. We pointed out that full ingredient labelling was not necessary and disproportionate for small businesses. We also pointed out relying on labelling alone could give consumers a false sense of security.
Michael Gove
The full ingredient option was the most stringent measure proposed in the recent DEFRA consultation exercise. It was strongly opposed by over 80% of other businesses and industry organisations including National Craft Butchers. Pubic bodies and local authorities did not
There is no doubt that smaller businesses will find complying with the recommended requirement extremely onerous and even large businesses will struggle. Pret a Manger, for example decided last October to voluntarily introduce full labelling for all their products and have found the exercise more complicated and more expensive than they had initially thought. It will still be several months before it is finalised in all their outlets.
The FSA do seem to recognise
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some of the difficulties likely to be faced. Heather Hancock Chair of the FSA said “the Agency would work with all levels of business and was not expecting rapid introduction of any new measures which will be introduced in a way that we can be confident will work.”
Heather Hancock
The FSA briefing paper warned: The mandatory introduction of full ingredients labelling for PPDS food will be a considerable challenge for industry to implement safely. It would likely involve a considerable programme of changes to be put in place by businesses and Government, as well as a suitable transition period to enable businesses to prepare.“
We will keep you in touch with developments on this situation and issue advice and guidance to members in a timely fashion as necessary. We anticipate a long lead-in period with plenty of time to prepare. n
ISSN 2051-1949 ©NCB 2019
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