Amazing Classic
By Martin Leduc
Published on
19 million. It is the number of poultry (ducks, chickens, etc.) slaughtered because of the avian flu epidemic which has been raging for several months now.
As a result, manufacturers offering products based on eggs or poultry meat are struggling to supply their factories.
Exemptions must be requested
“Faced with these tensions, to guarantee the continuity of supply of the products concerned, certain manufacturers are forced to carry out composition changes in a period of time incompatible with the printing of new packaging”, explains the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF).
As a result, as during the oil shortage, the DGCCRF allows manufacturers to waive certain labeling requirementsif indeed they ensure “the security and good consumer information.
In order for the derogation, which lasts a maximum of three months, to be granted, it is necessary that 3 conditions are fulfilled:
- not to endanger the safety of consumers, in particular by introducing substances or products likely to cause allergies “according to the list of allergenic products drawn up by the DGCCRF”, as confirmed by the repression of fraud at news.fr
- that the supply difficulties are proven and significant
- that the minimum conditions of consumer information are respected
“GMO-free”, “organic”, etc. are not affected
It should be noted that when the modification made to the initial recipe has the effect of impacting the quality of the foodstuff and/or the correct information, an explicit and visible statement must be affixed to the packaging.
Consequently, if a product “from organic farming” or “non-GMO” is no longer organic, this should be stated clearly and legibly on the label.
For example, “in the case of processed foods made from eggs, the scheme aims to allow substitution of egg products from eggs from free-range hens by egg products from caged hens. But explicit information will have to be affixed to the packaging”, indicates the Repression of Fraud.
For all other products, “recipe modifications must be identifiable […] If an immediate and explicit indication is not possible, then a mention of the “DEROG” type (for derogation editor’s note) must be affixed to the packaging”.
“For “duck rillettes” for which part of the duck meat and/or fat would be replaced by chicken meat and/or fat, provided however that the final product contains a minimum of 40% meat duck and 20% duck fat, only a DEROG-type statement may be affixed”, specifies the DGCCRF to news.fr.
Vigilance is therefore required for consumers.
The list of modified products available on the DGCCRF website
So that consumers know what to expect, the DGCCRF wishes, on its website, a product search enginewhich allows you to know if the ingredients of a product have indeed been modified without you realizing it.
A pure and simple list can also be found at this address.
In addition, “a display is set up in store in the departments concerned by the derogations as well as at the entrance and at the checkouts. E-commerce sites will also inform consumers for each reference concerned”, specifies the DGCCRF.
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