EU omega-3 content labelling debate rolls on
The July 15 meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) discussed the nutrition claim proposals for products bearing both short and long-chain fatty acids – as well as monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and unsaturated fat.
Member states said they needed more time to consider technical aspects of the draft which seeks to establish levels at which products bearing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ALA (alpha linoleic acid), as well as other fats, can make “source of” or “high in” label claims.
There is also debate over whether short and long-chain fatty acids should be grouped together under the auspices of one fatty acids claim, and whether ‘per 100g’ or ‘per 100kcal’ is the best measure.
SCFCAH is not scheduled to meet again until September, and the Commission has emphasised the need to vote on the matter due to a January 19, 2010, deadline for claims to be finalised under the EU 2006 nutrition and health claims regulation.
