SNE regrets European Parliament objective on New rules on Processed cereal-based food on Baby food

Specialised Nutrition Europe (SNE), representing manufacturers of specialised nutrition products in Europe, deeply regrets the objection to the Delegated Regulation on Processed Cereal-based Food and Baby Food, approved by the European Parliament’s Plenary session today.

This draft Regulation would have completed a legal framework ensuring a high level of food safety and guaranteeing strong consumer protection for infants and young children.

The current EU rules on Processed Cereal-based Food and Baby Food ensure that these foods are formulated specifically to limit the amount of salt, saturated fats and sugar, and to contain the correct amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, fibre, vitamins and minerals for the vulnerable consumers for whom they are intended.

The updated rules proposed by the Delegated Regulation would have ensured better consumer information on these foods, with the reference to specific labelling reference values for infants and young children, and an alignment with Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 on Food Information to Consumers.

With the European Parliament’s rejection of the Regulation, the European Commission will now need to re-draft the text, implying severe delays in ensuring the highest level of consumer protection and information for these products.

SNE therefore looks forward to the forthcoming EU developments on  Processed Cereal-based Food and Baby Food– including the review of the compositional criteria for these products – aimed at ensuring that the nutritional intakes of infants and young children match the specific nutritional needs of these vulnerable consumers.