2024-09-01 07:15:36
When shopping, not everyone is prepared to find alcohol as an ingredient in certain products – because they wouldn’t really expect it. Is the information sufficient?
Berlin.
When you are buying beer and chocolates filled with eggnog, it is clear that there is alcohol in them. But baked rolls, ready-made pizza dough, marzipan or small cakes for hot dogs sometimes also have a small amount of alcohol – which surprises many customers who want to pay attention to this. You can find mandatory information about the ingredients, which, however, are only shown in small print on the packaging. So consumer advisory firms are calling for more transparent information.
“Consumer complaints show that many people overlook the indication of alcohol in the list of ingredients,” said Stephanie Wetzel, coordinator of food transparency at the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations. “This is a problem for children and people who avoid alcohol.” Foods containing alcohol should be clearly labeled. “Alcohol should also be strongly labeled for unpasteurized foods and foods that do not have an ingredients list,” Wetzel asked.
Low level of alcohol in various products
“Hidden” alcohol is especially common in sweets, desserts and ready meals, said the consumer advocate at the German Press Agency. Salad dressings, deli salads and jams also occasionally contain wine. In ingredient lists, the names sometimes also read “ethanol” or “ethyl alcohol,” as stated on the Food Clarity portal.
The Association of Large German Bakeries states that wine is sometimes made in the dough itself through the fermentation process. The starch in the grain provides sugar, which the yeast converts into carbon dioxide and alcohol. The carbon dioxide then ensures that the bread retains its size and does not come out of the oven like a baked dough. Alcohol is responsible, among other things, for creating a pleasant smell and smell. The measurement is minimal and the products are intended to be selected. The group insists that labeling in the ingredients list is sufficient.
No warnings in sight yet
The federal government currently has no plans for new packaging information. The Ministry of Food explained that the labeling law regulated at the EU level does not currently provide for mandatory requirements such as warnings. The original right for changes lies with the EU Commission. The ministry welcomes an EU-wide harmonized approach to labeling to prevent alcohol consumption. We will engage constructively in possible discussions.
The Federal Agency for Risk Assessment states that it can be assumed that ethanol from natural fermentation processes is not significant in terms of alcohol consumption or toxic effects – even when large amounts are consumed and by “small groups of you feel” in the population. In the case of baked rolls, it can be assumed that heating during baking leads to a significant reduction in any ethanol content that may be present.
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