EU Audit Exposes Misleading Food Labeling Practices
A new report from the European Court of Auditors highlights widespread inconsistencies and deceptive claims in food labeling across the EU, leaving consumers confused and vulnerable.
- The European Court of Auditors has criticized the EU's food labeling system for overwhelming consumers with inconsistent and misleading information across hundreds of logos and claims.
- The audit, covering 2011-2023, revealed that regulatory updates lag behind industry practices, with only 4 of 11 planned updates under the ICDA regulation implemented since 2014.
- Health claims on products, such as botanical supplements, often lack scientific validation, with over 2,000 claims still awaiting review since 2010.
- National enforcement is weak, with low compliance rates in physical and online marketplaces and fines that fail to deter violations, such as average penalties of €651 in Belgium.
- The report calls for urgent reforms, including harmonizing labeling standards, strengthening enforcement, and addressing deceptive environmental and health claims to better protect the EU's 450 million consumers.
Sud Ouest 
Le Point 