Study denounces dishonesty in labelling meat products

Madrid, 4 November 2015. Consumers have no choice but to rely on food labels when deciding what to buy. However, there are doubts that the labels of meat products such as burgers and sausages tell the truth about what they really contain.

Croquettes that contain half the amount of meat declared on the label, the use of sulfites to make minced meat have a fresher look or chicken sold as beef in kebabs, these are just some of the deceptive practices disclosed in a new report published today by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) called "Close up on the meat we eat - Consumers want honest labels".

Based on evidence collected in recent months by seven organisations that are part of BEUC, including OCU, the report reveals that food containing meat does not always meet the expectations of consumers, even revealing cases where the labels are deliberately misleading.

Consumers should be able to trust the labels on the food they buy. OCU, as part of its "Sabemos lo que comemos" campaign (“Do we know what we are eating?”)  to obtain clear and accurate labelling of food, calls on the Spanish authorities to strengthen controls and ensure that labels provide accurate and complete information. In addition OCU stresses that control of the additives used in meat products should be intensified and that there should be a crackdown on food fraud, an issue that must remain a priority on the EU agenda.

For more information (media) Eva Jimenez Tel. 917 226 061 prensa@ocu.org