Food Additives: Labeling

In principle, additives and flavorings produced directly from genetically modified organisms are subject to labeling. Lecithin (E 322), for example, which serves as an emulsifier in ice cream or chocolate to stabilize fat in water mixtures, is often produced from soybeans. Soy, in turn, is now often genetically modified to make the plant resistant to pathogens. The EU imports 35 to 40 million metric tons of soybeans and soy commodities annually from the U.S., Argentina and Brazil.

Labeling of genetically modified ingredients

All foods and ingredients made entirely or proportionately from genetically modified corn or soy must show that on their labels. So the ingredient list of candy bars or instant soups may read that in the future:

  • “made from genetically modified corn” or.
  • “Contains vegetable fat produced from genetically modified soybeans”.

Unfortunately, the labeling requirement for additives, vitamins and flavors produced with genetically modified microorganisms (for example, xanthan gum [E 415]) is not clearly regulated. Currently, such substances are not labeled separately.

Incomplete list of ingredients despite labeling

For most people, reading the ingredient list means nothing more than guesswork. The main problem is that the list of ingredients of a fruit yogurt or quark, for example, contains nothing about preservatives if the proportion of fruit preparation is less than 25 percent. Additives do not have to be declared if they are introduced into a foodstuff by individual ingredients. If you want to be on the safe side, you should look for the additional label “without preservatives“.

For a whole range of packaged foods, no list of ingredients is required at all:

  • Alcoholic beverages with more than 1.2% by volume (exception: beer).
  • Cocoa, chocolate, chocolates
  • Food in very small packages
  • Condensed and dry milk products

For food sold in bulk, it is currently sufficient if only the group name of an additive is indicated on a sign: “with colorant / with preservative / contains flavor enhancers / sulfurized / waxed” it then says succinctly. This is why the consumer centers are right to demand improvements – complete and clear food labeling would actually not be too much to ask.

In the case of product groups that do not require labeling, preference should be given when purchasing to manufacturers who voluntarily label their products.