Minister dismisses concern over smoky bacon crisps in EU food deal

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 10:06 · Archive

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle dismissed concerns that EU alignment could restrict smoky bacon crisp labels.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle was asked on Times Radio whether closer alignment with the European Union ahead of a UK-EU summit could lead to restrictions on smoky bacon crisp labels. She dismissed the question by telling presenter Stig Abell to 'get a life', comparing the issue to concerns about EU straight bananas during the Brexit referendum.

The underlying concern centres on EU rules governing the use of meat names for products that do not contain meat. The European Snacks Association has raised the possibility that smoky bacon flavour descriptions could be caught by these rules. However, the issue concerns restrictions on flavour descriptions rather than a ban on the crisps themselves.

To address the potential conflict, an amendment has been proposed to exempt products including snacks from restrictions on flavour descriptions. Dame Angela argued that reducing trade barriers would benefit UK farmers and food producers seeking to export to Europe.

The minister's comments come ahead of a UK-EU summit in Brussels on November 20. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to seek agreements on food and farming, emissions trading and youth mobility. The proposed food deal would align the UK with EU plant, animal and food trade standards with the aim of removing post-Brexit checks on exports.

How it is being reported

• Minister responds to claims smoky bacon crisps could be banned in UK in new EU dealAngela Eagle told a Times Radio interviewer to "get a life" when asked about smoky bacon crisp labels and a UK-EU food deal.NW Evening Mail · 5 Nov, 09:28
• Minister responds to claims smoky bacon crisps could be banned in UK in new EU dealAngela Eagle told a Times Radio interviewer to "get a life" when asked about smoky bacon crisp labels and a UK-EU food deal.Cumberland News · 5 Nov, 09:28
• Minister responds to claims smoky bacon crisps could be banned in UK in new EU dealAngela Eagle told a Times Radio interviewer to "get a life" when asked about smoky bacon crisp labels and a UK-EU food deal.Westmorland Gazette · 5 Nov, 09:28
• Minister responds to claims smoky bacon crisps could be banned in UK in new EU dealAngela Eagle told a Times Radio interviewer to "get a life" when asked about smoky bacon crisp labels and a UK-EU food deal.Whitehaven News · 5 Nov, 09:28

In this story: Dame Angela Eagle · Andy Burnham · European Union · European Snacks Association · Times Radio · Brussels

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log