Information about the ingredients and nutritional value – such as the amount of sugar - of alcoholic drinks will still escape mandatory labelling rules which apply to all soft drinks. This is the disappointing conclusion of the alcohol industry plans published today.

It’s already 9 years that BEUC and its member organisations began calling for nutrient profiles to be adopted. These tools would help slash the number of health and nutrition claims which give a healthy halo to unhealthy foods.

The European Parliament just failed – by three votes – to block a proposal from the EU Commission to authorise the use of phosphates in döner kebabs and gyros1. Although phosphate additives are not allowed in these meat preparations, some producers have been unlawfully adding them in kebab meat sold across the EU. There are concerns over their health effects and their water-binding properties, which manufacturers could abuse to bulk out meat with water.

To stop microbes developing resistance to antibiotics, the EU must urgently adopt legislation to slash the use of antibiotics in farm animals. This is what the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) is calling for in its campaign to raise consumer awareness about the risks of antibiotic resistance on European Antibiotic Awareness Day (18 November).