Legal loophole over UK packaged meat exposed

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Legal loophole over UK packaged meat exposed

 

28/09/2004 - A Food Standards Agency survey suggests that a legal

loophole is being used by manufacturers to mislead UK consumers over

the amount of fat in packaged mince.

 

The agency claims that consumers are often being misled by minced meat

labels that claim that the product contains less fat than it actually

does.

 

In the case of products claiming to be 'extra' or 'super' lean, some

in fact contained as much if not more than 'lean' mince.

 

Under UK law, manufacturers do not have to specify a maximum fat

content for mince unless it is sold under a specific name, such as

'lean minced meat', when the fat content must not exceed 7 per cent.

 

But if mince is described in any other way, for example 'minced meat

lean', then the law does not apply.

 

" Consumers expect products described as 'extra' or 'super' lean to

contain less fat than 'lean' mince, " said David Statham, director of

enforcement and food standards at the FSA.

 

" Indeed people often pay a premium price for such products, and yet

this survey highlights the fact that some of the products described as

'extra' or 'super' lean actually contain as much fat, if not more,

than 'lean' mince. "

 

In order to see if consumers are getting accurate information from

packaged meat manufacturers, the FSA looked at 561 samples of fresh

and frozen minced meat, including 444 samples of beef.

 

The survey compared the fat content of 'standard' minced meat with

mince claiming to be 'lean' or 'extra/super lean'. It also checked

whether the fat content on the nutrition labels was accurate.

 

The results of this result suggested to the FSA that consumers were

indeed not receiving accurate information.

 

The agency found that the amount of fat in standard beef mince ranged

from 1.9g to 32.3g per 100g, while several samples of 'extra' or

'super' lean mince had actually higher fat contents than some 'lean'

mince.

 

The agency also discovered that 55 of the 308 samples giving nutrition

information on the label contained more fat than the label claimed.

 

" The agency now intends to consult on the development of its own

guidelines for the terms that are used to describe the fat content of

mince, " said Stratham.

 

" We want food manufacturers and retailers to sign up to clear

definitions and descriptions and ensure that their products meet them. "

 

The FSA is now keen to take action on this issue, pointing out that

the Food Safety Act clearly states that food must not be presented or

described in a way that misleads the consumer.

 

In addition, minced beef guidance devised by the Association of Public

Analysts (APA) state that 'lean' beef should contain no more than 16g

of fat and 'extra/super lean' beef mince no more than 9g of fat per 100g.

 

" The agency now intends to consult on the development of its own

guidelines for the terms that are used to describe the fat content of

mince, " said Stratham.

 

" We want food manufacturers and retailers to sign up to clear

definitions and descriptions and ensure that their products meet them. "