Consumers to be Caught Short Warns Watson (North Wiltshire Liberal Democrats)

North Wiltshire Liberal Democrats <info@northwiltslibdems.org.uk>

Consumers to be Caught Short Warns Watson

December 13, 2011 12:46 PM
Originally published by Sir Graham Watson MEP

Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar Sir Graham Watson has raised the issue of prunes and their laxative qualities in the Strasbourg chamber of the European Parliament.

Watson's comments have arisen from the refusal of the European Food Safety Agency to recognise the high fibre quality of fruits such as berries, pomegranates and the infamous prune.

"The European Food Safety Authority is investigating health claims on food products and this is very important for citizens.

"The European Commission's advisory panel which does this work has rejected 95 per cent of claims for plant-based foods, maybe in many cases with good reason, but among the claims rejected is the claim that prunes have a laxative effect. According to the panel there is no cause and effect between eating prunes and normal bowel function.

"I have asked the Commission if it is satisfied with the criteria and the methodology used for testing such claims because I know that prunes contain two substances sorbitol and dihydrophenylisatin, which have laxative effects. But most of our constituents do not require a scientific test."

"I have also invited the Commissioner responsible for health and consumer policy, John Dalli, to a prune eating contest to see for himself!'

"Consumer advice and food labelling is an important aspect of the single market. Having one set of clear guidelines on nutritional advice across 27 countries improves efficiency, saves taxpayer's money and brings an even playing field to food manufacturers.

ENDS

Note to Editors

Article 13 of Regulation (EC) 1924/2009 has requires the European Food Standard Agency's (EFSA) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) to publish evaluations on 2758 general function claims on botanical substances. However the NDA's opinions have rejected around 95% of claims for plant-based foods, and the draft list contains just 224 health claims relating to just 70 foods or ingredients.

The full speech can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn-HF7Sc9T4