Maybe you’re a salt and vinegar kind of eater or perhaps you sway more towards a cheese and onion, or you could just swing any way, a lover of crisps of all kinds.
Plenty of us Brits hold the potato snacks to a high regard; a staple in a meal deal, a go-to snack in the afternoon, just perfect basically.
Because if there’s something the UK does well, it’s crisps.
Although, that doesn’t stop us from getting excited about the thought of being on holiday and scranning a bag of ‘foreign crisps’ with a Fanta Lemon.
However, if you’re inclined to pick up a certain one while you’re holidaying in Europe, then you could be in for problem as a popular UK crisp flavour is being banned there over worrying health concerns.
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Well, there’ll soon be no smoky bacon crisps on the balcony on a Euro holiday. (Getty stock)
Yep, the European Union has decided to ban smoky bacon crisps.
This follows research by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which found some of the popular artificial smoke flavourings to be linked to potential health risks.
The research linked those distinct smoky tastes to genotoxicity, which it describes as the ‘ability of a chemical to damage the genetic material of cells’.
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“Changes or mutations to the genetic information within a cell may increase the risk of developing conditions like cancer and inherited diseases,” it adds.
The EFSA says for this type of toxicity it isn’t possible ‘to define a safe level’.
So, it seems a total blanket ban on the beloved smoky bacon crisps is the decision to prevent ‘worst case scenarios’.
However, snack manufacturers contested the report’s claims, arguing that there is no evidence to link to cancer.
At the end of April, EU member states agreed on the ban, with the added flavour set to be phased-out over two years.
Producers will be given a transition period to look at other flavourings. (Getty stock)
And it’s not just crisps that will be disappearing from the shelves either, anything else where the smoke flavouring is added for extra flavour will be banned like sauces and soups.
A statement from The European Commission reads: “The Member States have endorsed a proposal from the Commission to not renew the authorisation of eight smoke flavourings for food. After a phase-out period, these flavourings will no longer be permitted for use in the EU.
“The relevant decisions are based on scientific assessments by the European Food Safety Authority which concluded that for all eight smoke flavourings assessed, genotoxicity concerns are either confirmed or can’t be ruled out. “EFSA’s opinion is based on an updated methodology, assessing new data submitted by the applicants. It concerns the specific flavourings which can be added to food, and not the food itself.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty stock image
Topics: Health, Europe, Food And Drink