PFLA initiates a coalition advocating for clear and open food labeling practices
In the UK, a new consortium called CLEAR (Consortium for Labelling for the Environment, Animal Welfare and Regenerative Farming) is leading a significant initiative to revolutionize food labeling. The consortium, which includes various organizations such as the PFLA, Sustainable Food Trust, Compassion in World Farming, and the Soil Association, among others, aims to provide clear, standardized labels that communicate environmental sustainability, animal welfare standards, and regenerative farming practices to consumers [1].
The CLEAR consortium's goal is to create a unified, comprehensive food labeling system that increases transparency and supports sustainability in the UK food supply chain. By integrating multiple aspects of food production, such as environmental impact, animal welfare, and regenerative agriculture, into a single labeling scheme, consumers will be able to easily identify products that meet high standards across these key criteria [2].
A consumer survey carried out by the PFLA in 2017 showed that 93% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that current 'grass-fed' labelling regulations, which allow for products to be 'predominantly fed on grass, ie which can be just 51% grass-fed, are misleading [3]. In response, the CLEAR consortium is advocating for mandatory method of production labelling with adequate enforcement mechanisms for all foods, including imports [4].
The consortium's vision includes independent assessment requiring verifiable benchmarking against key metrics, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the labels [5]. Furthermore, they want clear and accessible presentation of the labels, ideally on the package, to make it easy for consumers to understand the information [6].
The consortium believes that this mandatory method of production labelling with adequate enforcement mechanisms will help deliver against the Government's 25-Year Environment Plan [7]. The consortium chair, Fidelity Weston, is pleased that the Government has given a commitment to review food labelling regulations [8].
If you are an organization that shares the consortium's vision and would like to add your support, you can contact Fidelity Weston at [email protected] [9].
This article was published on April 28, 2021.
[1] https://www.pfla.org.uk/news/clear-consortium-launched-to-advance-transparent-food-labelling/ [2] Ibid. [3] Ibid. [4] Ibid. [5] Ibid. [6] Ibid. [7] Ibid. [8] Ibid. [9] Ibid. [10] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-commits-to-review-food-labelling-regulations [11] https://www.farminguk.com/news/new-consortium-to-push-for-transparent-food-labelling-in-the-uk_51288.html [12] https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/uk-news/new-consortium-launched-to-push-for-transparent-food-labelling-in-the-uk/632144.article [13] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/28/new-consortium-launched-to-push-for-transparent-food-labelling-in-the-uk [14] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56874061
- The CLEAR consortium, in its initiative to revolutionize food labeling, is advocating for mandatory scientific assessment and verification of 'grass-fed' claims, aiming to improve transparency and boost 'animal welfare' standards.
- The new consortium, CLEAR, is aligned with the 'health-and-wellness' and 'environmental-science' movements, striving to provide consumers with labels that communicate the environmental impact, animal welfare, and regenerative farming practices associated with their food choices.
- Beyond revitalizing the 'food-and-drink' industry, the CLEAR consortium's push for transparent food labeling also seeks to support sustainable 'lifestyle' choices that prioritize both human and environmental wellness.
