Food manufacturers who prominently make claims about a product's health credentials on printed labels are unlikely to benefit from more relaxed regulations in Europe.
Items can only be said to have reduced quantities of salt, sugar and fat if the company has cut them by a minimum of 30 per cent.
As a result, MEPs have chosen to block plans to change this threshold to 15 per cent, as they believe it will not encourage food businesses to devise healthier products.
Matthias Groote, chairman of the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, said maintaining the status quo should help people make "clear comparisons" when they are purchasing food.
"I am pleased that the European Parliament has defended the interests of health-conscious consumers," he commented.
Some 393 MEPs voted in favour of rejecting the European Commission's plans to change the rules, while 161 voted against and there were 21 abstentions.
Denny Bros Ltd, 03 February 2012
