First step for new food labels

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Jun 2010

The European Parliament today voted in favour of stricter rules on food packaging labels including more detailed nutritional information and a "country of provenance" indication for meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables, and single ingredient products.

MEPs hope it will put an end to misleading labelling that sometimes results, for example, in Danish bacon being labelled as UK produce. Local MEP Graham Watson believes that clearer labelling will empower the consumer and benefit producers in the South West.

Commenting after the vote he said;

"These new labels will allow people to make an informed choice about the food they buy.

"Whether you are concerned about quality, ethics, or food miles, the right to know and the right to choose should be yours.

"The South West is home to some top quality foodstuffs, and it is only right that consumers are able to pick this out."

MEPs did however drop the controversial "traffic light labelling" in favour of more detailed nutritional information.

Watson said;

"With obesity and public health becoming a major problem, it is right that we MEPs debate the best way to provide consumers with all the information they need to make healthy choices.

"The traffic light system was today rejected, but this legislation has a long way to go and more amendments are inevitable."

The Food Information to Consumers report will now go to the Council of Ministers for their approval.