consumers lost in the face of food labeling slogans and logos

In a report, the Court of Auditors deplores the “incomplete rules” of the European Union regarding the labeling of food products, a source of confusion for consumers.

“Nutri-Score B”, “good for the immune system” or even “natural ingredients”: logos, environmental claims, nutritional promises and rating systems abound on the packaging of food products. Enough to confuse, even mislead, consumers. “A real headache” for supermarket customers, sometimes deliberately misleading, deplores the European Court of Auditors in a sharp report, regretting the “incomplete rules” of the European Union regarding the labeling of foodstuffs.

In its report, the Luxembourg institution points out “weakly restrictive” legislation at the European level, especially since the controls carried out by the Member States prove insufficient and that “the fines are not always dissuasive, effective or proportionate. The European Commission is accumulating delays: according to the auditors of the Court of Auditors, only four updates of the European regulation concerned (ICDA) have currently been carried out, out of the eleven works included in the program, to the detriment consumers.

The latter “can easily get lost in the maze of information”, regrets the European Court of Auditors, for whom “food labels are too often a source of confusion”.

Although certain essential information must be included on packaging, such as the fat or sugar content, they are added to other nutritional claims which are not sufficiently regulated. Nothing prevents, for example, the display of a statement “rich in vitamin C” on the packaging of a very sweet product, suggesting its good virtues. The observation is identical for health claims relating to certain plant products, “not necessarily supported by scientific data”, which can mislead about the nature of the product.

Nutri-Score, Keyhole et NutrInform

Furthermore, due to lack of consensus, different nutritional labeling systems coexist on European soil, each based on its own characteristics – Nutri-Score in France, Keyhole in Germany, NutrInform Battery in Italy… “Harmonized rules could help consumers to identify the healthiest products, and ultimately contribute to preventing diet-related illnesses”, but the cohabitation of several systems “has precisely the opposite effect, namely confusing consumers instead of guiding them”, notice the listeners.

The European Court of Auditors also adds the multiplication, without control, of “labels, logos and allegations” to the long list of its criticisms. Uncertified claims, “clean” promises (e.g. products “without” something) and environmental claims, some of which “simply amount to greenwashing”, contribute to further losing consumers when they scrutinize the labels. However, the auditors argue, “the current EU rules unfortunately do not prevent such practices”.