Even if strictly enforced, the most severe punishment is a fine of 10,000 yuan. This has little deterrent effect on the scale of the modern food industry. Even if it is really caught accepting the punishment, the "illegal cost" paid is only a fraction of the profit compared with the benefits.
As people pay more and more attention to food nutrition and safety, food labeling has gradually been paid attention to. So, what should be labeled for food labeling? What does it mean for competent authorities and consumers?
Communicate true and accurate product information
The principle of food labeling-convey true and accurate product information. In the "Regulations on Food Label Management" of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, it is also clearly stated that "the content of food labels should be true and accurate, easy to understand, scientific and legal." However, "true" and "accurate" are not the same thing.
Before explaining it carefully, let me tell a story: there are two shops selling the same kind of fish. One store sells white varieties, and the other store sells pink varieties. Later, the store that sold white varieties had a sign at the door that read, "Our store guarantees that the fish sold will never turn pink." As a result, one can imagine that all customers no longer buy pink fish from another store. This brand is not falsified, and what it says is even completely "true". However, consumers have been strongly misled. In other words, the information it conveys is not "accurate".
Inaccurate information may be "true", and it is "misleading" to consumers. For example, if the slogan in the above story is printed on a food label, it will be a "gray zone" under the current Chinese regulations. "It won't turn pink" is a description of the fish it sells, which is both "real" and "scientific." Although it obviously misled consumers, according to the regulations of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, it is really not good to deal with it. In the provisions of the regulations, the relevant content is only such a "descriptive or misleading way to describe or introduce food". But without further explanation of "misleading", it is difficult to enforce the law in actual operation.
In terms of actual operation, "true" is not difficult, but "accurate" is not easy. Examples of US milk labeling can be used for reference. FDA approves the use of growth hormone in milk production. According to the scientific testing data, there is no substantial difference in whether the milk obtained from the use of hormones, so the FDA does not require the use of hormones on the milk packaging. But the FDA stipulates that if manufacturers do not use hormones in production, they can carry out "voluntary labeling". The problem is that if it simply states that "the hormone is not used in the production of this product", although it is "real", it will cause consumers the illusion that milk without hormones is better. Therefore, such labeling is "misleading" and therefore not allowed. The legal label is: after "the hormone is not used in the production process of this product", it is clearly stated that "(the FDA believes that there is no substantial difference between the milk using hormones and the hormone not used").
Who will bear the cost of labeling
Although GM foods are endlessly debated in China, GM foods can be legally listed in most parts of the world. For people in these places, the focus is more on how to label genetically modified foods (more precisely, all "genetically modified" foods that include genetically modified foods).
The system represented by the United States embodies the attitude of "encouraging" genetic modification. They believe that in terms of nutrition and safety, genetically modified foods are no different from conventional foods, so there is no need to label them. Producers can "voluntarily label" non-GMO products, but the producer must provide evidence to prove that the products sold do not contain GMO ingredients. In the United States, such products need to be achieved through IP certification. IP means "Identity Preserved". It requires that products start from seeds and maintain their original and natural genetic characteristics throughout the supply chain from growth, transportation, processing to marketing. Obviously, maintaining such characteristics and completing certification requires a lot of expense. Therefore, IP products can be sold at a higher price.
Compared with traditional products, the original production price of genetically modified products is lower, and IP products require higher costs than traditional production. As a result, through the "voluntary labeling" of IP products, consumers' "right to choose" to purchase non-GMO products are respected, and the increased production costs are borne by the purchaser. To some extent, this is unfair to consumers who have to buy "non-GMO products". However, in the FDA's view, genetically modified products maintain the safety and nutrition of food and reduce social costs, so we must encourage them. The demand for IP products lacks scientific support, so it has to spend more money on wronged fans.
Represented by Europe is another system-"compulsory labeling" of genetically modified foods. This means that any food containing genetically modified ingredients must be labeled. Most countries adopt this method, but only tolerate the content of "unmarked". For example, in foods labeled as "without GMO ingredients" in Japan, the content of allowed GMO ingredients is higher than that in Europe. Under this system, as long as there is no label, it is generally regarded as "non-GMO" food.
For genetically modified products, they should be produced as much as possible, and finally the label of "contains genetically modified ingredients" will be finished. It is the responsibility of the producer to maintain the "non-GMO" of the product. Once the genetically modified ingredients appear in the product but are not marked, the producer will be investigated and punished. In order to ensure this, the production costs of "non-GMO products" and the social supervision costs are still higher. When consumers choose "non-GMO products", they also have to pay a higher price.
China ’s current regulations are similar to the “mandatory labeling†in Europe, but there is only a very general sentence in the “Food Labeling Regulations†that “belongs to genetically modified foods or contains legally genetically modified raw materials, the label should be marked with Chinese instructionsâ€. There is no further explanation on how to ensure that foods that are not labeled do not contain genetically modified ingredients.
Whether it is a "voluntary label" in the United States or a "mandatory label" in Europe, the core is not in which labeling method is adopted, but in whether the competent department can guarantee "truthful labeling". "Organic food" certification is a realistic example-if the certification system cannot be strictly implemented, consumers can only pay "psychological comfort" in exchange for high prices. The strict implementation of the certification system, in addition to the actions of the competent department, the increase in production costs is inevitable. This cost, regardless of the form of payment, is ultimately borne by consumers. [next]
Calorie and ingredient labeling are more valuable
For food labeling, we are still at the stage of "what is contained" and "whether there are harmful ingredients". Food safety is only a minimum requirement for food production. Safe food is not equivalent to healthy food. Basically, all "unsafe" food is produced illegally. Since it is "illegal production", then asking them to make any labels will have no effect. In other words, food labeling does not solve the problem of "food safety" but the problem of conveying "health information" to consumers.
The impact of diet on health depends not only on "what is eaten", but more importantly "how much are eaten by various food ingredients." In other words, one is to eat a reasonable amount of food, and the other is to balance all kinds of nutrients. There is a certain contradiction between the two, and the concept of "nutrition density" has emerged. Foods with a large "nutrition density" are those that contain more nutrients needed by the body but have lower total calories.
Therefore, to compare the "good" and "bad" food, what you need to know is the total calories of the food and the content of the main nutrients. In China's current food labeling regulations, it is only required to list the main ingredients and the additives used in order of decreasing content. Only for foods that claim to be "nutritive" or "enhanced" or targeted at children and other special populations, the content of the main nutrients is required. This is certainly an improvement, but the "health message" conveyed is not enough.
It is mandatory to label the total calories and the content of main nutrients, and there is more value. For producers, when consumers can compare which foods are "healthy" through labeling, the competition in food production will have more technological content. For example, a high-fat or high-sugar food can be made delicious, but the calorie composition table on the label will remind consumers of its unhealthy properties. In order to win favor, producers will work hard to develop delicious and healthy formulas. The United States does not legally prohibit the use of hydrogenated vegetable oils, only the content is mandatory. This regulation has prompted the food industry to reduce and avoid the use of hydrogenated oils. On the other hand, the enforcement of the regulatory authorities has become easier. As long as the manufacturer's production label is compared and the content of the ingredients is analyzed, those that do not match the label can be treated as unqualified products.
The key to food labeling is implementation
It is impossible to expect practitioners in the food industry to consider consumers from the perspective of "morality" and "self-discipline". What is binding on businesses is always the choice of law and consumers. For consumers, rational choice can only be based on "accurate" information. With such accurate information, food labeling is the most direct way.
More importantly, ensuring that the information conveyed by the label is “true†and “accurate†and consistent with the content of the food can only be achieved through strict enforcement by the competent authority. China does not lack laws, and detailed and specific regulations are also provided in the “Food Label Management Regulations†issued in August 2007, implemented in September 2008 and revised in 2009.
As for this imperfect regulation, it is unclear how effectively it is implemented. However, the penalties for violations are not strong. Even if strictly enforced, the most severe punishment is a fine of 10,000 yuan. This has little deterrent effect on the scale of the modern food industry. Even if it is really caught accepting the punishment, the "illegal cost" paid is only a fraction of the profit compared with the benefits. In the United States, false labeling can cause recalled products to be recalled. Is it a big deal in our opinion?
Colanders And Strainers,Pot Strainer,Vegetable Steamer Basket,Vegetable Steamer Pots
Xiongyang Household Co., Ltd , https://www.xyutensil.com