Andy Burnham has said he will grab the new EU-UK food deal "with both hands," but new regulations could make it harder for Brits to enjoy simple snacks like crisps. Alarm bells have sounded from some sectors fearing that a selection of much-loved iconic British foods could fall foul of EU regulations when the PM signs the new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal in Belgium on November 20.
By bowing to Brussels, the PM will be subjecting Britain to a eurocrat list of 31 banned terms for plant-based food. The list covers a variety of vegetarian products that have a meat-based name, such as Walkers smoky bacon crisps, which are made without meat.
Britain's Crop Sector in the Firing Line
Britain's crop sector could also be in the firing line, as the National Farmers Union and industry sources warned UK farmers have been allowed to use fungicides not approved by the EU. This could mean oats used in a variety of foods will be unsellable on the continent.
The Daily Express has compiled a gallery of British foods Brussels might seek to ban under Labour's new deal:
- Smoky bacon crisps and bacon fries: Labour food and environment minister Angela Eagle told a Times journalist asking about this crisp flavour being banned to 'get a life', but the snack could potentially be scuppered under EU rules banning meat-based names for vegetarian products.
- Pot Noodle (such as Chicken & Mushroom): Again a victim of the EU meat moniker zealots, the popular kettle-water warmed snack could be in trouble under rules from the continent, with makers potentially having to add meat extract or change the name of the product.
- Beef-flavoured Monster Munch: Leaked paragraphs from the UK-EU deal show there could have been a ban on this popular snack because of terminology used for plant-based seasonings rather than animal products.
- Veggie sausages and burgers: The great British veggie banger was thought to have been under threat from Brussels bureaucrats because they wanted to ban referring to vegetable versions as 'veggie burgers' and instead call them terms such as 'veggie discs'. The plans were aborted after criticism from Sir Paul McCartney, who said the move would impact his late wife's vegetarian food brand, Linda McCartney. Under a compromise, the EU has agreed that sausages and burgers represent a shape rather than a specific animal.
Impact of the New Deal
The deal, set to be unveiled at a joint summit in Brussels on November 20, could have wide-ranging effects on British food products. While the PM has expressed enthusiasm for the agreement, the potential bans on iconic foods highlight the trade-offs involved in the post-Brexit 'reset' with the Brussels bloc.
