A petition written by UFC-Que Choisir and farmers’ unions calls on the European Commission to label processed meat products.
More than one in two processed products that contain meat do not mention its origin. This is one of the conclusions of the survey conducted by the UFC-Que Choisir, published in early February. The consumers’ association has decided to join forces with the majority agricultural union (FNSEA), Young Farmers and Coop de France through a petition on change.org to demand greater transparency.
“Yes, I want to know where my meat comes from! This is their message. This petition, addressed to the European Commission, calls for clear labeling of the origin of the meat contained in processed products. Two days before the opening of the Paris agricultural fair, the date is well chosen to put pressure on politicians, by putting the subject back on the table.
“Other countries don’t want it! “
Invited on France Inter Tuesday and questioned about the lack of progress since the horse meat scandal, the Minister of Agriculture, Stéphane Le Foll, seemed resigned to the possibility of imposing precise labeling on Europe . “Why didn’t I get the labeling from Brussels?” Because other countries don’t want it! He had explained.
Stéphane Le Foll put forward the Viande de France label which guarantees that from the beginning to the end of the chain, the animals have never left France. The consumers’ association and the agricultural unions preferred to continue the effort towards Brussels. “As soon as a product contains more than 50% meat, we ask that it be labeled on its origin,” said Xavier Beulin, president of the FNSEA, on France Info this Thursday morning.
Since January 2015, all fresh or frozen meats have been labeled on their country of breeding and slaughter – except for minced meats -. But for processed meats, even if some manufacturers have chosen to indicate its origin, no constraint has yet been put in place.
.
