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Belgrade – For the first time in Serbia, the conditions and how to use the label “fasting” on food products have been defined.
Source: Tanjug
Photo: Depositphotos, ArturVerkhovetskiy
Amendments to the Food Declaration, Labeling, and Advertising Ordinance also specify the use of the label related to gluten-free foods.
The novelty in the amendments to that Ordinance removed many doubts about the labeling of “fasting”, said Tanjug at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.
It is specified that the label “fasting” can only be indicated on food that is not of warm-blooded animal origin, nor is it in any stage of its production and processing of root foods of that origin.
Additionally, this label can be found on products to which no ingredients have been added, including additives, carriers, flavors and enzymes, or manufacturing aids.
This also applies to substances that are not additives, but are used in the same way and for the same purposes as auxiliaries, in processed or unprocessed form, and that are derived from warm-blooded animals.
The amendments to the Ordinance stipulate that in the communication of food traders with consumers, the label “fast” is part of the provision of voluntary information.
The Ministry observes that the information provided on a voluntary basis must be truthful and accurate, as well as the mandatory information provided in the product declaration or used in product advertising.
Fasting foods may simultaneously contain “fasting” and information on the possible presence of ingredients that can cause allergies or intolerances, which are the result of cross-contact with ingredients in fasting foods.
This possibility is regulated only in the event of the unintentional presence of ingredients from warm-blooded animals, but only if all precautionary measures have been taken in accordance with good production and hygiene practices.
Another novelty provided by the modifications to the Ordinance refers to the definition of conditions and the way to use the statements related to gluten, which, according to the Ministry, will greatly facilitate the purchase of food for consumers intolerant or allergic to gluten.
Therefore, the “gluten-free” label can only be indicated if the gluten content of the food as a finished product is less than 20 milligrams per kilogram.
Furthermore, the “very low gluten content” claim can only be made if the food consists of or contains one or more ingredients produced from wheat, rai, jema, oats or their hybrid or cross varieties that have been specially processed to reduce the amount of gluten. , does not contain gluten in excess of 100 milligrams per kilogram in the finished product.
As is the case with the “fasting” label, the use of the “gluten-free” or “very low gluten” label is part of the voluntary information provision.
The Ordinance provides penalties for any deviation from the rules when these labels are used against the producer, that is, the entity responsible for the food business that sells those foods.
The novelty of the amendments to the Rulebook, which was published in the “Official Gazette” on September 25, also refers to further harmonization with EU law, that is, with EU Regulation 2018/775.
Said Regulation also provides for the indication of the country of origin of the main food ingredient or, at least, the indication that the country of origin of the main ingredient differs from the country of origin of the food.
The Ministry says that based on these rules, consumers will have more information when buying food.
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