Food labelling in the EU : consumers can get lost in the maze of labels; Special report 23, 2024

Labels provide consumers with information about the content of their food and help them make informed purchasing decisions. We found that food labelling in the EU can help consumers make better-informed decisions when purchasing food, but there are notable gaps in the EU legal framework as well as weaknesses in the monitoring, reporting, control systems, and sanctions. This leads to consumers being confronted with labels that can be confusing or misleading, or that they do not always understand. We make a number of recommendations, including addressing the gaps in the EU legal framework for food labelling, stepping-up efforts to analyse labelling practices, and taking action to improve consumer understanding of food labelling. ECA special report pursuant to Article 287(4), second subparagraph, TFEU.