Sweden is tightening controls on the labelling of free-from foods, including taking measures to ban misnomers such as ‘gluten-free margarine’
From this autumn it will be mandatory for companies that label food as ‘free-from’ to report these to the Swedish Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). Currently, free-from reporting is voluntary.
The new measures are primarily aimed providing clearer and more accurate labelling information to sensitive groups.
The SFDA says that free-from labelling “entails special responsibility”. It says it has the broad backing of food manufacturers and brand owners, who say they want clear guidance on their own responsibilities in this area.
While the SFDA sees free-from foods in a broadly positive light it says that food products should not make claims for special characteristics when all such foods naturally have similar characteristics. It cites ‘gluten-free margarine’ as an example of a spurious and unhelpful claim.
Picture: Free-from aisle, ICA supermarket. ICA