London Met experts respond to EU ruling on health foods

Despite a petition from twenty of the world’s leading nutrition scientists, led by experts from London Metropolitan University, the European Commission has voted for new regulations that may fool consumers into thinking food and supplements containing omega 3 are healthier than they really are.

The experts will now be taking their findings to the European Parliament to encourage MEPs to scrutinise and reconsider the new regulations. The scientists are encouraged “that common sense will prevail” as there were 48 abstentions, including the UK representative, from the vote.

Professor Jack Winkler, head of the Nutrition Policy Unit at London Met and coordinator of the petition comments:

‘This is an insult to consumers. It is a defeat for public health. It is also a denial of science.

‘Twenty of the world’s leading scientists, who specialise in fats, have told them they are wrong.  But the Eurocrats have simply disregarded that advice, the best science available.  Then they claimed that their decision was ‘based on sound science’.  This is hypocrisy.  It would be laughable if the new Regulation were not so damaging.  The EU rushes decisions against a ticking clock, then produces flawed legislation.

‘This Regulation is a double windfall for companies. Firstly, it allows food manufacturers to cut costs by using inexpensive plant oils instead of real fish oils.  Then, by making unsubstantiated but impressive sounding claims, they can charge a higher price for products consumers think will do them good.  This is the ‘health premium’.  They cut costs and raise prices – great business, facilitated by the European Commission, at consumers’ expense.  The winners from this episode are the big European food manufacturers.  Was that an accident?   Or is it an example of the Commission paying disproportionate attention to the interests of big companies at the expense of consumers?

‘We will not give up our campaign to improve this regulation.  Having been approved by Brussels bureaucrats, it now goes to the European Parliament for a three-month scrutiny.  

‘We will now present good science and common sense to all MEPs, asking them to oppose the regulation.’


The Nutrition Policy Unit and other members of staff from the Faculty of Life Sciences at London Met will appear on national broadcast media three times in a week this month to speak about the Omega-3 issue. Details are as follows:

Wednesday, 21 October, 9pm, BBC3, Who Made Me Fat?  Theme: sugar and obesity.

Sunday, 25 October, 12.30pm, The Food Programme, Radio 4. (Rebroadcast on Monday, 26 October, 4pm).  Theme: O3s and other fats, including our campaign.

Monday, 26 October, Dispatches, Channel 4.  Theme: Breakfast, margarines, O3s and our campaign.

For more information please click here to see our previous story.


13 October 2009