England Eliminates Trans-Fats

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) members have voluntarily committed to eliminating industrially added trans-fats from all of their own brand lines by the end of 2007. As part of the European Union’s efforts to tackle food-related health concerns, the European Commission wants retailers to reduce or remove trans-fats but, in a contradictory move, it is now taking legal action against the government of Denmark for restricting trans-fats in food products there. Despite being at odds with the EU healthy food objectives, European rules say the Danish move is an illegal free trade restriction because it hinders suppliers from other member states selling products containing trans-fats in Denmark. To avoid the legislative confusion, BRC food retailers voluntarily pledged to remove trans-fats. The retailers’ commitment was praised in an Early Day Motion, published in the House of Commons. The BRC members are: Asda, Boots, Co-Op, Iceland, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.