Bakery products sold by number, such as four-packs of crumpets and six-packs of rolls, are under threat because proposed EC labelling legislation only makes provision for products sold by weight.

Under current draft regulation on the provision of food information to consumers, which aims to brings together general and nutrition labelling for all pre-packed foods, there is no provision for products sold by number.

 

The Federation of Bakers (FoB) is so concerned by the omission that it is sending its CEO, Gordon Polson, to Brussels next month to lobby MEPs and EU officials to have the legislation amended to include products sold by number.

 

“The government and the FSA are fully behind us and we have to make sure this legislation is changed,” said Polson.

 

The issue is one of many on the agenda of newly elected FoB chairman Mark Fairweather, who is CEO of Allied Milling and Baking. He takes over the role from Joe Street after being formally elected at the Annual General Meeting on 13 May.

 

Other issues affecting the organisation, highlighted at the AGM and in its annual report, include possible legislation on the mandatory fortification of bread with folic acid, salt reduction and criticism of plant bread by the Real Bread Campaign.