Faced with the shortage of oils linked to the war in Ukraine, many manufacturers have asked the authorities for “exemptions” to sell “revisited” products without changing the labels.

Foodwatch is calling for "total transparency" on the subject this Friday.

Sunflower oil, in particular, is essential in the composition of many products.

However, the one used in cooking comes from oleic sunflower, mainly produced in Ukraine.

France also produces some of it, but “two thirds of French sunflower imports come from Ukraine”, details Foodwatch in its press release.

New labeling that takes too long to put in place

“Manufacturers are therefore turning to substitute ingredients, such as rapeseed oil, palm oil and GMO soybean meal from Latin America,” continues the NGO.

Problem: Changing labeling takes a long time.

Manufacturers have therefore requested exemptions to sell these products without changing the labels.

The French interprofession of the valorization of the potato (UGPT) confirmed these requests for exemption formulated near the General direction of competition, consumption and the repression of the frauds (DGCCRF).

“The DGCCRF is giving us this flexibility to simply inform on the packaging that these vegetable fat complexes are subject to change,” explains Guillaume Réveilhac, president of Cérélia.

It's declarative, we need this functioning.

»

“Total transparency” required

Foodwatch says it understands "the exceptional nature of the situation", but believes that "consumers must be informed of these ingredient changes".

The NGO has launched a petition “demanding total transparency”, via information “on the shelves and online, for each product in a transparent way and without delay”.

The government recently confirmed manufacturers' demand for “flexibility” on labeling rules.

"This is a subject on which we continue to work with consumer associations and professional federations," said a government source on Thursday.

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  • Food

  • War in Ukraine

  • Shortage

  • ngo

  • Consumers

  • Health

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