Recent findings from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) reveal that inadequate actions from the European Union (EU) have led to overwhelming confusion among consumers regarding food labelling. The ECA’s report highlights significant delays in updating the EU food labelling framework, resulting in an ever-increasing number of voluntary schemes and claims that hinder rather than help consumers make informed decisions about their food choices. While food labelling has the potential to empower consumers to opt for healthier options, the current regulatory landscape appears riddled with “notable gaps”. Prominent voluntary initiatives such as Nutri-Score and the NutrInform Battery have emerged to aid consumer understanding, but their coexistence has only added to the chaos, leaving consumers feeling lost and misled.
According to ECA member Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the multiple labelling systems in existence confuse rather than clarify nutritional choices. Each scheme operates with different meanings and objectives, creating a fragmented informational landscape for consumers. This uncertainty extends beyond nutritional labels to include various environmental claims and vague terms like “fresh” and “natural,” which can mislead consumers regarding the true nature of food products. The EU’s existing rules on food labeling “are full of holes” that leave consumers vulnerable. Food companies exploit this vacuum by portraying their products as healthier or more environmentally friendly than they are, further fueling consumer confusion.
Although recent regulatory changes have been made through the General Food Law and Claims regulation, core components like nutrition labelling, environmental claims, animal welfare standards, and origin labelling tend to be fragmented, often dealt with on a national basis. The EU’s principal food labelling framework, known as the Food Information to Consumers Regulation, has not seen any updates since its establishment in 2011. While updates have been discussed, particularly during the previous legislative term, these initiatives stalled due to political sensitivities and various member states’ oppositions to the Nutri-Score system. The complexity of synchronizing various national interests has created a deadlock in reform efforts, a situation Pentus-Rosimannus believes should not be tolerated indefinitely.
Consumer advocacy groups are also raising alarms about the persistent gaps in food labeling regulations. Emma Calvert, a senior policy officer at BEUC, stresses the urgent need for a unified front-of-pack nutritional label in the EU. The absence of such a label deprives consumers of essential information that could facilitate healthier food choices, especially in light of alarming obesity rates across Europe. Advocates contend that without a consistent and clear nutritional labelling system, consumers are left navigating a confusing maze of conflicting information, which could further exacerbate health issues relating to poor dietary choices.
In response to the ECA report, the European Commission has acknowledged the necessity for stricter regulations to safeguard consumers from misleading claims. However, it has not laid out a definitive plan for amending the long-standing Food Information to Consumers Regulation, a topic that remains contentious among member states. Instead, the Commission has pointed to forthcoming regulations on environmental claims as a potential focus area. This lack of decisiveness raises concerns about the EU’s commitment to modernizing food labeling practices to better serve consumer interests.
At a recent hearing, the EU’s agriculture and food commissioner, Christophe Hansen, admitted the pressing need for coherence in food labelling. The multitude of voluntary labels that currently exist are not harmonized, which complicates both consumer trust and the internal market’s functioning. Hansen called for a “streamlining exercise” to consolidate the labeling systems, ensuring clarity and reliability for consumers. Ultimately, this situation requires urgent attention to help consumers navigate an increasingly complex food environment, thus promoting healthier lifestyles and fostering consumer confidence in food choices.
