KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)--A U.N. committee on food standards May 11 issued recommendations that could force companies to reveal the percentage of key ingredients in their products under tougher labeling standards, officials said.

The panel will present its proposals to the United Nations' food standards body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, in July, setting the stage for new labeling standards that the commission could finalize by mid-2006.

"This is good news for consumers," said Bill Jeffery, a Canadian delegate of the International Association of Consumer Food Organizations. "It will be a tool to help them obtain better information so that they aren't cheated."

Representatives from about 50 countries and various organizations made the recommendations during a weeklong meeting that is scheduled to end May 13 in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysia's eastern Sabah state on Borneo island.

Food standards adopted by the commission are not binding, but countries often use them as models for national laws, the consumer food association said, noting that percentage ingredient labeling rules are already in effect in the European Union, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.

Such regulations would compel companies, for example, to declare the exact percentage of sugar and fruit content in cereals instead of simply listing major ingredients.

The Codex is a joint commission of the U.N. World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Date: 5/23/05

	Web hpj.com

Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008.  High Plains Publishers, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com