CLITRAVI: There is a general concern regarding meat consumption in EU
EuroMeatNews: There is a tendency of reducing plastic usage in packaging. Have the EU meat processors taken any steps in this direction?
Paulo Patruno: Food and drink packaging plays a vital role in protecting and preserving products for consumers. It allows food and beverage manufacturers to offer consumers a wide choice of safe products that meet their lifestyle
needs.
However, some packaging - particularly plastics - ends up in nature and contributes to the growing problem of (marine) litter. In addition, different packaging materials face different challenges in terms of circularity. Some materials, including some plastics, are already fully recyclable and the challenge is to ensure infrastructure is in place to collect, sort and recycle it, and that consumers dispose of the waste responsibly. For other materials, there is a need for innovation in recycling technology and sometimes redesign. There is an urgent need to ensure that all packaging is sustainable and reusable, recyclable or compostable to support a societal transition towards a circular economy. As a major user of packaging, the meat processing industry fully acknowledges that it has a share of the responsibility with regards to the impact of the packaging that it puts on the EU market and our association is launching an internal debate to find pragmatic
solutions which can combine food safety and sustainability.
EMN: What can you tell us about the meat processing industry’s performance this year?
PP: There is a general concern on consumption in the internal market. The sector is experiencing a negative trend due to fake news, negative communication, and
strong anti-meat campaigns. On the other side export to third countries shows good performance.
EMN: This year, France has banned producers from using meat terms in naming their plant-based products. Do you expect this happening in other EU countries too?
PP: The French initiative is at an early stage and it needs to go further. In any case, it is a first step which raises the awareness of an important issue.
Basically, we call on the EU to grant the meat and meat-based products the same level of protection granted to milk and dairy products in the single CMO.
We believe that plant-based products, even though they clearly state to be fit for vegetarians and vegans as not containing meat, they mislead consumers in a subtle way. They are marketed in a way to lead consumers to think that they are “replacements” or “substitutes” - in terms of taste, nutritional values or role in a healthy diet - of meat-based products and, in many cases, promoted as healthier and eco-friendly alternatives, even if the nutrition declaration and the content of nutrients are completely different. But this is not all, they are doing this taking deliberately profit of the reputation of well-known denominations of meat products to attract the favor of consumers.
EMN: The media is filled with news that promote the idea that processed meat products are unhealthy. What is CLITRAVI’s strategy to fight against this image that meat has gained in recent years?
PP: CLITRAVI is working to affirm a science-based principle: there are no good and bad foodstuffs, but healthy and unhealthy diets. We think that the balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are the pillars to reduce non-communicable
diseases. Meat is an essential source of nutrients and there is strong evidence about its role in a balanced diet.
We are working to let consumers enjoy safe and tasteful products without any concerns. The meat processing sector believes
in education and we are calling on Governments and Institutions to work on education campaigns for consumers. Our members are investing in communication and education campaigns too.
EMN: The European Commission is considering lowering the maximum authorized levels for nitrites and nitrates in processed meat for health reasons. How would this affect the producers?
PP: First of all it is essential to remember that, according to the recent opinion of the European Food Safety Agency of June 2017, existing levels for nitrites and nitrates intentionally added to meat and other foods are sufficiently protective for the consumer. Then it is also important to understand that nitrates and nitrites are used for food safety purpose and that 70% of the human intake of nitrates and nitrites comes from vegetables, 13% from water and 11% from processed meat products.
In order to reduce the exposure and where possible, in any case, and on a voluntary basis, our FBOs are using lower levels than the ones authorized.
The recent statement of Commissioner Andriukaitis is in line with the EFSA opinion, as he clearly admits that lower levels would reduce the OVERALL exposure, but it is important to bear in mind that processed meat products are not the main source of nitrates/nitrites if we consider the overall diet. CLITRAVI is ready to discuss the issue with the European Commission,
always by taking into account that food safety comes first.
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