WRITTEN QUESTION E-2424/03 by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission. Salt content in children's food.
Date: 2003-07-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: child, food additive, food consumption, food policy, foodstuffs legislation, nutrition, public health, salted product

C 51 E/246

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

The United Kingdom, for example, has the highest permitted blood alcohol content level in the EU, but
relatively low accident figures compared to the other Member States.

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its recommendation of 17 January 2001 setting
out the Commission’s approach to tackling the serious problem of drunken driving.

(1) Commission Recommendation of 17 January 2001 on the maximum permitted blood alcohol content for drivers of

motorised vehicles, OJ C 48, 14.2.2001.

(2004/C 51 E/268)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2424/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(21 July 2003)

Subject: Salt content in children’s food

Nutritionists are urging a reduction in the salt content in the food that we eat. They emphasise that this is
particularly important with regard to babies’ and children’s food. Apart from the fact that it leads to an
unhealthy diet, they claim that an excessive intake of salt is the cause of obesity and high blood pressure in
later life. Scientific standards have been laid down which prescribe the maximum daily salt intake
commensurate with good health. The same scientific studies show, however, that babies and children are
exceeding that maximum intake because of the food that they eat. Nutritionists are therefore calling on the
food industry to reduce the salt content in its products.

Is the Commission aware of the findings of the said nutritionists? Does it have any further information?

Does the Commission share this concern about the excessive salt content in the food that we eat?

Does the Commission intend to take any measures to require the food industry to reduce the high salt
content? Can it provide more information about this?

Does the Commission have any information available which shows that the food industry is making an
effort to reduce the salt content in its products?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

The Commission is aware of the findings and recommendations of national and international World Health
Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) authorities and of
the medical
profession as to the high salt consumption of the European population. High levels of salt intake have
been associated with increased blood pressure, or hypertension. High blood pressure is a cause, or
contributory factor, in a very high number of deaths throughout Europe; over 170 000 deaths each year in
England alone.

Reduction of salt intake by the population is one aspect of the actions to take in order to achieve long
term improvements in the diet and nutrition of the population throughout Europe. A healthy balanced diet
will improve people’s health and reduce the incidence of the major causes of premature death and chronic
illness. Reducing the average population salt intake would proportionally lower population average blood
pressure levels and confer significant public health benefits. Since approximately 75 % of the dietary salt
intake come from processed foods or foods eaten outside the home (the remaining being added during
cooking or at the table), reductions in the salt content of processed food and drinks would be necessary
and requires the co-operation of the food industry.

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/247

Some food industry sectors have responded to concerns about salt and have taken steps aimed at reducing
salt levels in a number of categories of common processed foods. For example, retailers and manufacturers
in the United Kingdom have worked to achieve an average reduction of 13 % in bread since 1998, and a
reduction of 16 % has been achieved in branded breakfast cereals over the same period. Despite these
successes the United Kingdom food industry’s overall response has been criticised, the main criticism from
national authorities and consumer groups being the lack of reductions in many foods containing high
levels of salt, including those popular with children. Although Community legislation restricts the use of
salt in foods produced specifically for infants and young children, such as weaning foods.

On 16 July 2003, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation on nutrition and health claims (1).
This Regulation includes specific provisions for the establishment of nutritional profiles of foods that will
be allowed to use nutrition and health claims in their labelling, presentation and advertising. In particular,
the amount of total fat, saturates, trans fatty acids, sugars, sodium or salt, at variable levels, are commonly
cited as criteria for the ‘nutritional profile’ of products. The 2003 publication Diet, Nutrition and the
Prevention of Chronic Diseases, Report of a joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation, identifies an association
between the high consumption of these nutrients and some chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, several types of cancer, obesity, osteoporosis and dental disease.

(1) COM(2003) 424 final.

(2004/C 51 E/269)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2432/03

by Frédérique Ries (ELDR)
and Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(22 July 2003)

Subject: Human rights situation in Laos

On Thursday, 3 July 2003, the European Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the
immediate release of the Belgian journalist, Thierry Falise, the French journalist Vincent Reynaud, the
American pastor of Hmong origin, Naw-Karl Mua, arrested in Laos and sentenced to 15 years
imprisonment, and their Laotian escorts. This resolution was a follow-up to those of 15 February (1) and
15 November 2001 (2) in which Parliament had already called on the authorities in Vientiane to begin
democratic reform in the country and observe human rights and freedoms. However, it is evident that the
Laotian government is deaf to these appeals and that there has been no improvement in the human rights
situation. Although the release of the three Western citizens on Wednesday, 9 July may be reassuring,
there are grave concerns as to the safety and future of their four Laotian escorts. Furthermore, there is still
no news of the five leaders of the student Movement of 26 October 1999 who had organised a peaceful
demonstration in support of democracy.

Can the Commission confirm that any proposal to consolidate the partnership between the EU and the Lao
People’s Democratic Republic will be preceded by a detailed and thorough evaluation of the progress made
in the human rights sphere, beginning with the release of the five leaders of the Movement of 26 October
1999 and the four Laotian citizens arrested with Thierry Falise, Vincent Reynaud and Naw-Karl Mua?

Can the Commission say exactly how much Community aid has been granted under the cooperation
agreement since 1997 and where it was allocated, with particular reference to the 25 ongoing Community
projects?

Finally, is the Commission considering taking ‘appropriate measures’ under Article 19 of the cooperation
agreement of April 1997? In other words, does it intend to notify the government of the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic that it will invoke its right to suspend all or part of the bilateral agreement?

(1) OJ C 276, 1.10.2001, p. 281.
(2) OJ C 140 E, 13.6.2002, p. 577.