German bakers' opposition to proposed new EU food labeling rules prompted European Commission Health officials to retreat from an aggressive anti-salt promotion, In Tuesday's midday briefing, Commission Health spokesperson Nina Papadoulaki said bakers will not be required to either limit salt content of bread or include EU health claims labeling language, according to a report in Foodnavigator . The German bakers had threatened to bake (inedible) bread one day ina "Day of the European Commission's Bread" demonstration of the unreasonableness of the proposal.
"The rule under discussion was adopted in 2006 but talks are ongoing in the EU-27 bloc to decide how the claims will enter the market, and crucially, the setting of agreed levels for nutrients such as salt.
"Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) newspaper earlier this week relayed concerns from German bakers that their wholegrain bread would be a product designated as bad for the health by Brussels, due to its salt content and that consumers would be indirectly urged to buy packed toast bread because they might perceive it as healthier.
"According to FAZ, to show consumers what saltless bread would taste like, German bakers are planning a ‘Day of the European Commission's Bread’.
"Seeking to further appease and reassure the German bakers with their salt-encrusted pretzels Papadoulaki said in her statement that the commission, the EU's executive arm, was confident the 'final solution will satisfy the concerns of European bakers in general and German bakers...and in particular German bread will be as popular in the future as it is today.;”
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