An update on negative claims in the EU and in EU Member States
European Union
Oct 31, 2019
Legal issues surrounding the labelling of foodstuffs are plentiful. An important example is the use of negative claims, indicating that certain substances are not present. This article addresses legitimate uses of such claims in the EU, including nutrition claims, gluten-free claims, and lactose-free claims. Some EU Member States have also legislated on GMO-free claims. Finally, the article reviews the legitimacy of two labelling matters of practical relevance, namely clean labels or voluntary negative claims, such as without additives, and, second, negative claims with the implied message that whatever is used instead of the substance is safer, healthier, or better.