Local MEP Smokes out the Truth

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 3rd Jun 2003

Eurosceptics have been left fuming after a 'euromyth' about smoke flavourings in food was exposed as a lot of hot air. A new EU regulation would lead to smoky bacon-flavoured crisps disappearing from the shelves and cause "havoc" in Britain's food industry, it has been claimed in some national newspapers.

But Andrew Duff, who is Lib Dem MEP for the East of England in the European Parliament, says that the new rules will help food manufacturers and protect customers from harm.

Mr Duff said:

"This is the EU doing the job for which it was created, laying down rules so that trade can take place freely while also ensuring that health risks are eliminated. It's a mundane but sensible approach that should be welcomed not criticised."

Smoke flavourings for foods such as ham, salmon and crisps are produced from smoke being passed through water. The new regulations, which have the full support of the British Government, lay down common standards for the whole of the EU and require additives to be tested by the European Food Safety Authority.

The Liberal Democrat MEP says the way in which the issue has been distorted explains why opinion polls show that people in Britain are the least well informed in Europe about EU decision-making.

Mr Duff said:

"Some newspapers have a deliberate agenda to portray the European Union in the worst possible light, and this does no service to democracy. If we can't have an informed debate about smoky bacon crisps how can we have one about big issues like the euro or the European constitution?"