OCU asks the Spanish MEPs reject the elimination of "nutritional profiles"

On Tuesday April 12 will take place in the European Parliament vote on a motion to eliminate the concept of nutrient profiles. The initiative is part of a proposal referring to a resolution on the program adequacy and effectiveness of the European regulations known as REFIT.

OCU believes that the concept nutritional profile is a staple of consumer information and ensuring the protection thereof, to such announcements or product advertising "sell" health claims on foods with unhealthy nutritional composition. By eliminating this consumer information opens the door to include mentions as "rich in calcium" or "strengthen your bones" on foods high in sugar, fat or salt such as appetitive, sugary drinks and pastries; This measure does nothing to alleviate obesity, especially in children by the type of products a priori likely to be most affected.

OCU has sent a letter to the Spanish MEPs asking for your support to keep the nutritional profiles and vote against removal.

OCU urges to maintain and strengthen the current regulation of 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. In this regulation the concept of nutrient profiles is included, but has never been applied, which is now used as an excuse for disposal. However the World Health Organization has just published an ambitious model of nutrient profiles in order to restrict the marketing practices of some unhealthy for children products, demonstrating that it is possible to classify foods according to their nutritional composition to promote the health of consumers.