EU looks into prospect of minimum text size for food labels

Posted by Daniel Palmer on 28th August 2009

The European Union is looking into a proposal to introduce a minimum text size for information on food packaging.

The proposal is one of a number from the European Commission that the European Parliament is currently negotiating as part of a modernisation of food labelling laws.

Currently, the main rule for food packaging in the EU is that it must not mislead consumers, but complaints from customers have seen the consideration of a minimum text size to ensure that packaging is easier to read.

The EU is also considering the potential of extending rules regarding labelling of allergenic foodstuffs to unpackaged goods.

A detailed multi-year study into food labelling is still underway in Member States, which could see an overhaul of food labelling policy in the years ahead.