The European Union will be removing artificial smoke flavourings over the next 24 months – which means BBQ flavoured crisps may also get the chop.
Towards the end of April, the EU’s 27 member states voted to approve a ban on smokey crisps over ‘health concerns.’
A recent European Commission report stated that artificial smoke flavourings “carry cancer risks due to how the flavour is extracted.”
Irish food manufacturers the Kerry Group have declared that the ban could cause “major economic harm,” with up to 40 pc of ham and bacon sold in Ireland reportedly being reliant upon the method.
According to the European Commission report, cancer risks have been associated with the purifying smoke and how removal of components such as tar and ash is carried out, before the flavouring is added to food.
Manufacturers have disputed these claims, arguing that there is no evidence that connects the process to cancer.
Former Government Minister Simon Coveney wrote to the EU to say that the ban could have a detrimental effect on businesses, according to The Irish Times.
Crisp making process (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Mr Coveney had been lobbying for a longer phasing out period over several years to allow businesses find and implement new flavouring methods.
Currently the process for most meat and fish will be phased out over five years, while for other products like crisps, the period is just two years.
In April, the European Commission statement said that EU Member States had “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,” they said.
UK politician Kevin Foster said the move did not make sense.
“At a time when war is returning to Europe and serious economic challenges face us all, it is hard to believe anyone would think this ham-fisted move is a sensible one. This will leave many scratching their heads.”
US actor Eva Longoria is a notable famous fan of the Tayto version of the crisp, who won’t be happy with the news.
“They gave me restaurant recommendations and historic places, and they say you can’t be in Dublin in Ireland without eating a Tayto”, she said during a trip to Dublin.
“It’s like the Lays of Ireland. I took a picture with the smoky bacon because I saw it at the store and just picked it up.
“Then Twitter got really mad because it wasn’t cheese and onion,” she added.