EC Proposes To Eliminate Classification Of “Diet” Foods From Current Food Laws

The European Commission is proposing to close loopholes in current EU legislation related to so-called diet foods because they allow food companies to circumvent tougher European legislation on nutrition and health claims. Specifically, the EU plans to delete the concept of diet foods  – which includes gluten-free food, slimming food and sports foods – from the books altogether because the term “results in an uneven playing food for food operators and unfair competition,” the EC said. The Commission said the new rules, if implemented, would not result in removal of products from the market. Diet foods would henceforth be covered by existing food laws. Moreover, food companies would have two years to make appropriate changes in labeling.