The French State has authorized manufacturers of crisps or biscuits, in particular, to produce with rapeseed oil rather than sunflower, supply being difficult due to the invasion of Ukraine.
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If you’re having trouble finding sunflower oil, you’re not alone. Manufacturers have also been affected by supply difficulties since the invasion of Ukraine, which accounts for half of world production. The Ministry of the Economy announced on Tuesday April 26 that food manufacturers could replace sunflower oil in their recipes without having to change their packaging to indicate this.
Sunflower oil is used in the composition of many processed products, such as crisps, biscuits, sauces and casseroles or margarine. It can be replaced by rapeseed or palm oil.
The measure will be valid for six months. Beyond that, if manufacturers continue to use a new recipe, they will have to change their packaging – according to Bercy, six months is the time currently required to print new packaging. On the other hand, within two months, their products must bear a mention of a change, without necessarily detailing it.
Only exception: if the manufacturers use new allergenic products, they will have to indicate it immediately. Likewise if the new recipe makes certain mentions (“100% organic”, “without palm oil”) misleading.
“We are talking about thousands of products”explains to franceinfo Camille Dorioz, campaign manager at the consumer defense NGO Foodwatch, who has launched a petition for better consumer information. “Some industrialists said that they no longer had sunflower oil and that they needed a derogation to be able to continue making these products. We are not questioning the change, but we are asking for clear information.”