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12:34 pm
Expert
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Mon 23-May-11
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Did anyone else hear on the news this morning that the EU is trying to impose further regulations on food labelling? It seems that the powers that be want protein, Kcal, etc, etc specified on all foods sold. This would have a devastating effect on small producers. The announcer on our local radio station did say that if selling direct to the consumer the regulations might not apply. Watch this space! 
3:03 pm
Supreme Being
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Sun 2-Oct-11
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another bid to control us I think, where will it end?
Trying to enjoy life as it is
5:01 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 7-Jun-10
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Aly said:
another bid to control us I think, where will it end?
In rebellion probably¦.there are a few of us remember what it was like to use 'common sense' over most situations¦perhaps the 'newbys' don't know what it is hence the regulations. Not got to Bulgaria ¦we're not full members and let's keep it that way¦.
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
7:37 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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Would certainly be interesting to see on major food retailer packets though. Would be quite a wake up call perhaps. Hopefully this type of legislation is only aimed at big producers who try to get away with murder with the kinds of things they try to pass off as food.
8:40 pm
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Mon 23-May-11
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I'm concerned on a personal level. I sell jams, chutneys and pickles at our local annual fair. I do it to cover the cost of the ingredients and use up produce from the garden. I spent years making and giving away my handiwork and several years ago decided that it's about time I made some profit from my work. I'm just hoping that common sense will prevail and that people like me will be exempt and can continue to sell direct to the consumer.
6:35 pm
Supreme Being
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Sun 2-Oct-11
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I very much agree, it would be wrong to penalise the cottage industries
Trying to enjoy life as it is
7:02 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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I think it is aimed at those who supply the customer rather than as in your case the customer comes directly to you. Small firms of less than 100 have up to five years to comply, bigger companies have to do it sooner.
11:16 pm
Supreme Being
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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I hope so Joanna, I'm the same as Iris and God only knows how I'd calculate the calorie content etc
9:00 am
do you have to show the sugar content in the uk??? When I sold my jams in France I had to use a special instrument to measure the end sugar content ans show it on my label
1:14 pm
Supreme Being
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Mon 3-Oct-11
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The WI had to start labelling it's produce if sold on WI stalls in markets etc. e.g Strawberries, Sugar etc. but not calories.
Pity beekeepers they are possibly going to have to lable pollen as an ingredient in Honey in the future- which of course the bees add, not the beekeper.
There aare online calorie calculators if it comes to it, so should not be too difficult. If you can find an old copy of McCance and Widdowsons "The Composition of Foods" that gives more than enough information to do labelling.
Martin
Are we having fun yet? I am!
7:37 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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I think it is good to label all the ingredients as there maybe something in there that doesn't agree with someone, but if you are selling it personally then you can explain all that goes into your produce.
7:47 pm
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Mon 23-May-11
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Thanks for that info, Martin. I hope I don't need to put any further info on my labels than at present. I checked with my local Trading Standards office and they were helpful. As I only sell my produce once a year and direct to the customer from outside my property I only need to list the ingredients (I do it in descending order, listing the greatest first), give a best before date and a contact address to comply with their requirements. I do have to comply with regulations when labelling my preserves as "extra jam", ensuring the proportion of fruit is as stated in the blurb. If I were to sell via a shop, at a Farmers' Market, etc then I would need to get the gadget that measures sugar content percentages and probably get my kitchen inspected and maybe even a Food Hygiene Certificate. I can't justify the expense of buying one of those gizmos or be bothered with all the inspection/certification. I'm careful with sterilising jars and lids. I've had no complaints and have managed to bring up two children and feed them and my husband for the last 40 years without poisoning them! EU please leave us cottage smallholders alone!!
7:57 pm
Supreme Being
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Sun 2-Oct-11
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well said, we need more cottage smallholders to save the planet
Trying to enjoy life as it is
8:02 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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I think Iris you have confirmed that it really only affects you if you are selling it to a third party rather than directly to the customer and on an ad hoc rather than a regular basis. If you were going to get serious about it then that is the time to get all the labelling stuff in order.
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