Bulgaria to Ban 'Dairy Product' Label for Foods Containing Vegetable Fat

The use of the label "dairy product" will be banned for foods containing vegetable fat. Photo by dariknews.bg

A new ordinance in Bulgaria will ban the labeling of food products containing vegetable fat as dairy products.

In a Thursday interview, Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov explained that the ordinance would be introduced as a supplement to an existing one which defines which products can be sold as "cheese", "yellow cheese" and "milk".

Naydenov told journalists that the current regulations were often being sidestepped by producers who put "dairy product" stamps on products containing palm oil.

"With the introduction of the new ordinance we shall ban the use of the label "dairy product" for goods containing vegetable oil, most of all palm oil," the Agriculture Minister stated, adding that the rules were not setting new standards in the sector.

"This is an ordinance which specifies the products that can have names related to dairy products. As you know, the first step was to regulate which products can be classified as "milk", "cheese" and "yellow cheese". However, many "entrepreneurial" producers found a loophole and placed the generic "dairy product" stamp on products stuffed full of palm oil or something of the sort. This ordinance will outlaw the use of the "dairy product" stamp for products containing vegetable oil, most of all palm oil," Naydenov announced.

Asked to give details, he noted that the new piece of legislation contained limits about the percentage content of powdered milk in dairy products.

He went on to say that the expansion of the existing regulations was aimed at boosting consumer protection.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!