ALTS – Note on liquid seasoning for cooked meat products
Dec 29, 2021 - Foods
ALTS – Note on liquid seasoning for cooked meat products
For meat preparations with a liquid seasoning that are sold raw as fresh products or frozen, it is customary to indicate the liquid seasoning in conjunction with the product name. Liquid seasoned meat products are also marketed as fully cooked.
The ALTS (Working Group of Experts in the Field of Food Hygiene and Food of Animal Origin) addressed the question at its 87th meeting from June 21 to 23, 2021, of whether an indication is also required on cooked meat products if they are made from liquid seasoned meat. Many manufacturers believe the indication is unnecessary because the water added to the raw meat with the liquid seasoning often makes up less than 5% after cooking and therefore no longer needs to be declared as an ingredient.
ALTS, with reference to Annex VI Part A No. 1 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (FIC), holds the view that the use of liquid seasoning in cooked products must be indicated as a special treatment, even without detectable added water. The omission of this indication is likely to mislead the consumer regarding the nature or composition, for example.
This view was confirmed by an administrative court (VG Oldenburg 7th Chamber, judgment of 05.12.2017, 7 A 4064/16; OVG Lüneburg 13th Senate, decision of 12.12.2018, 13 LA21/18).
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Source: Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety - https://www.bvl.bund.de