Strict meat labels to be imposed

STRICT labelling rules are to be imposed on all prepared meat meals in France, President Hollande said as he called on Europe to tighten up its rules on food labelling.

Speaking at the Salon de l’Agriculture in Paris, Hollande said he wanted “mandatory labelling” and said although it would take “several months” for Europe to agree the move he said “France is going to lead the way in traceablity.”

Frozen food firm Findus – which first revealed the scandal of horse meat being substituted for beef in frozen dinners – has already said it will use only French beef in its pre-cooked meals for France. Supermarket giants Carefour and Intermarché are doing the same.

Farming leaders have already been calling for a new “Made in France” meat labelling system and Agriculture Minister Stéphane Le Foll said stating the country of origin would give added value to French beef.

Although fresh meat has been covered since 1996 by the VBF logo – for viande bovine française – this was never agreed in Europe for prepared meals due to the difficulties in fixing elements of the supply chain. This was the root of the present problem, with horse meat from Romania ending up in frozen “beef” meals.

Companies at present only have to indicate the kind of meat but not its origins and Hollande wants Europe to move to avoid future frauds and let “consumers know the provenance of the products they consume, especially for meats”.