From “beef dumplings that only have 4% beef”, it exists. A very juicy strawberry on a pot of yogurt that contains very little, that also exists. Between 2017 and 2021, the association for the defense of consumers and users CLCV scrutinized “the packaging and composition of nearly 900 products”. Breakfast cereals, breaded fish, biscuits, vegetarian products, energy drinks… She conclusions, delivered on Wednesday January 19, are final: they warn of practices “which mislead the consumer” and on the “nutrition or health claims”.
“As for the origin of the ingredients, it very often remains unknown despite the many French flags that we have noted but which in fact indicate the place of packaging or manufacture”, also regrets the CLCV, which warns against certain products for children “very sweet, greasy, salty and brimming with additives”.
The association therefore requests “the establishment of minimum thresholds of ingredients to be able to highlight their images”, as well as’“a better framework for the use of nutritional and health claims”. She also judges “It is essential to establish maximum quantities of additives, flavourings, salt, fat and sugar in children’s products”, encouraging manufacturers, “without waiting for binding regulations”, to use fewer additives and flavorings and to be more transparent about the origin of products.
“Regarding the practices of manufacturers, we have noted, following our investigations, improvements in the recipe of certain products, removal of mentions, the display of the Nutri-Score which was not displayed before…”, explains to AFP Lisa Faulet, scientific and food manager of the association. But these changes “are unfortunately not generalized to all products since these are voluntary initiatives by certain brands”, she continues, calling for “go further at the regulatory level”.