Politics1 min read

Why smoky bacon crisps threaten to reignite rows over EU rules

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The proposed agreement could be announced at an upcoming summit, but it mandates UK compliance with EU standards across various sectors. Under the regulations, 31 terms such as bacon, steak, and chicken would be reserved solely for items containing actual meat. While industry groups favor reduced trade frictions, they are urging ministers to safeguard long-standing flavor names that consumers already understand. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has pledged to back domestic snack manufacturers during negotiations.

Key points

  • British food manufacturers could be prohibited from using meat terms for flavor descripti…: British food manufacturers could be prohibited from using meat terms for flavor descriptions on vegetarian snacks under the proposed pact.
  • The European Commission holds the power to grant exemptions for established, long-standin…: The European Commission holds the power to grant exemptions for established, long-standing product descriptions.
  • Ministers are seeking to finalize the food standards agreement at an international summit…: Ministers are seeking to finalize the food standards agreement at an international summit later this month.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

- Published

The naming of smoky bacon-flavoured crisps has become the latest political headache to emerge from the government's bid for closer ties with the EU.

The government is negotiating a deal on food standards in a bid to cut costs for British companies trading with Europe.

Labour ministers have been keen to talk up the potential economic benefits of the agreement, which could be announced at a summit later this month.

But the deal's requirement for Britain to adopt EU food rules in a wide range of areas has threatened to reignite sovereignty debates from the Brexit era.

Labour ministers have been keen to sidestep talking about the impact of alignment in particular sectors, instead stressing the overall economic boost it expects the food deal to bring.

On Thursday, Environment Secretary Angela Eagle told a radio presenter he should "get a life" when he asked about the potential impact of the new rules on snacks, such as smoky bacon crisps.

But it highlights the political dangers for the government of realigning with regulations that British politicians have not been…

Politics