The European Parliament rejected (373 votes to 272, with 30 abstentions) a resolution tabled by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, which objected to the draft Commission regulation amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the use of phosphoric acid – phosphates – di – tri – and polyphosphates (E 338‑452) in frozen vertical meat spits.
Members behind the motion for a resolution called on Parliament to oppose the Commission proposal to allow the use of phosphoric acid, di and tri phosphates and polyphosphates (E 338-452) in kebab meat - be it mutton, lamb, veal, beef or poultry.
In support of their objection, Members argued that there are serious concerns and questions surrounding the negative health effects of phosphates used as food additives.
In 2012 a scientific review was published stating that phosphate additives in food are a matter of concern as they may be linked to elevated serum phosphate levels which have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
Other studies published in 2013 and 2014 have shown that a diet high in phosphorus may impair bone health in patients with chronic kidney disease as well as in healthy subjects.
Members recalled that a Commission report of 2017 revealed that within some Member States, competent authorities and food business operators had different, and sometimes incorrect, interpretations of applicable Union requirements relating to meat preparations and meat products, resulting in a lack of uniform implementation of such requirements.
In addition, Members pointed out that frozen vertical meat spits are destined for the out-of-home sector which means that consumers are not informed about the use of phosphates as food additives in these products since they are not labelled.
For all of these reasons, Members called on the Commission to withdraw its draft regulation pending a re-evaluation of phosphates used as food additives which should be carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) by the end of 2018.