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17th
May 2004
Supermarkets are being prosecuted for telling shoppers
that fruit and vegetables are good for them.
Tesco
is being taken to court for running a promotion in partnership with
a leading charity encouraging people to eat healthily in a bid to
prevent cancer. Asda faces a similar prosecution.
The
bizarre red tape prosecutions are being brought by trading standards
departments from two different local councils, which claim the
stores have flouted laws governing labelling and health claims.
Tesco, in association with Cancer Research UK, printed labels on millions of pre-packed fruit and vegetables advising: "Eat at least 5 different portions of fruit and veg a day to help prevent cancer."
Cancer
prevention
Asda's
prosecution surrounds marketing material stating: "Mangoes are
a great source of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which are good for
healthy eyes and skin. Their anti-oxidant properties help to fight
cancer."
No
one is disputing that these claims are true. However it appears that
it is illegal to apply them to a particular product.
Trading
standards officers claim the supermarkets are in breach of the 1939
Cancer Act, which was brought in to stop people selling quack cures,
and the 1996 Food Labelling regulations.
Tesco,
which is being prosecuted by Shropshire County Council, has been
forced to water down the health message on its labels. However, the
council will continue with the prosecution next month at West Mercia
Magistrates Court.
The
store's marketing director, TimMason, said: "It is crazy thatwe
are being prosecuted for promoting a responsible health
message."
Asda,
which is being prosecuted by Swindon council, said: "We are
disappointed that the local authority is continuing to pursue the
matter, given that we have sought to follow one of the Government's
policy objectives."
Food
regulations
A
spokesman for Swindon council said: "Our view is that there is
a clear breach of both the Cancer Act and Food Labelling
regulations. You cannot make health claims suggesting a product will
prevent cancer."
The
stores could be fined £1,000 for each breach of the Cancer Act and
£5,000 for each offence under the Food Labelling regulations.
Cancer
Research UK said it was "very disappointed" by the Tesco
prosecution. And the British Retail Consortium has written to Public
Health Minister Melanie Johnson pointing out the folly of the
prosecutions.
The Government claimed in a 2000 NHS Plan that "increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is the second most effective strategy to reduce the risk of cancer".
Click here to view a Food and Diet Plan
For other relative health news articles please click here