Jar safety rules? Surely it's a joke
When I read that a European Union rule stops the selling or donating of preserves in re-used jars as the practice breaches European health and safety regulations, I thought it was a wind-up.
Are bureaucrats really paid to dream up such absurd rules?
Everyone I know who raises funds by making preserves and re-uses glass jars is scrupulously hygienic.
If the bureaucrats are really concerned with health and safety there are plenty more serious concerns which have been recently reported.
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For instance, a colouring in a popular fizzy drink has been linked to cancer. Chemicals in plastic bottles and food packaging have been linked to infertility and birth defects.
Serious questions have been raised about the safety of GM foods and the superweeds being created by GM farming.
The World Cancer Research Fund carried out a global study on the dangers of processed meats and believes that some preservatives used in them are to blame for an increased risk of bowel and stomach cancer.
Tests have shown that some pesticide chemicals linked to cancer are not removed from fruit and vegetables by washing but remain within their flesh.
There are many more examples of toxic food but I expect the EU bureaucrats are reluctant to take on multinational food and chemical companies. It is far easier to target ordinary folk trying to raise funds for good causes.
Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone.
The EU's pivotal role in delivering the longest period of peace in the history of this troubled continent has received the ultimate accolade of the Nobel Peace prize.
We should all be proud of this award, which goes to every citizen of the EU. The £9 billion annual cost of the UK's continued membership is a fraction of the cost of a nuclear bomb, and it has achieved far more.
We must never turn back to isolation and nationalism.
Eric Goodyer, Colsterworth.
Comments
by spalding1944
Thursday, October 25 2012, 10:43PM
“Lets be like the French i.e. if the rule suite use them , if not ignore them”
by City_C10
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 8:56PM
“"Tests have shown that some pesticide chemicals linked to cancer are not removed from fruit and vegetables by washing but remain within their flesh." So, we cannot eat apples etc? Red wine gives us cancer, then weeks later, it helps us to not get cancer, then it does again, and so on! Can we trust these 'tests' I feel not?”
by EGoodyer
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 8:59AM
“I love the way that those who would like to walk out of the EU resort to absurd fantasies. It demonstrates a total lack of substance to their position”
by Rachel_Leics
Sunday, October 21 2012, 3:11PM
“life will go on, i wish people would stop fighting x”
by Eastonian
Sunday, October 21 2012, 9:05AM
“You deflect somewhat, JayBe, by quoting "materials and articles supplied as antiques should be excluded as they are available in restricted quantities and their contact with food is, therefore, limited".
The point is; it is the second-hand jars which ARE in contact with food for public consumption that are the problem.
There is no issue with jars or other glass articles which are not being used for this purpose.”
by JayBe11
Sunday, October 21 2012, 12:29AM
“@ Eastonian
Thanks for pointing me in the direction of the relevant regulations.
Although Elizabeth's letter doesn't say so, the story which gave rise to this was the selling of homemade jams to raise funds for the local church or WI would be prevented from doing so by EU regulations. This doesn't appear to be the case and seems to be covered in point 8 which deals with small quantities and "antiques".
From European regulation 1935/2004, article 3
"(8) Any material or article intended to come into contact with
food which is placed on the market should comply with
the requirements of this Regulation. Nevertheless, materials
and articles supplied as antiques should be excluded as
they are available in restricted quantities and their contact
with food is therefore limited.
Otherwise, no disagreement with anything you've said.”
by Eastonian
Saturday, October 20 2012, 5:23PM
“JayBe, really?!! You might want to look at European regulation 1935/2004, article 3 which sets out the safety criteria for food packaging and states "though it can be assumed that originally the jars met these criteria, as they were fit to sell at the retail level, once sold and their constituent food has been consumed, the required chain of documentation which shows they are compliant has been broken".
It is up to local authorities to decide whether or not to apply these rules to occasional sales such as coffee mornings, church fetes and the like.
I have not said the EU can fine people/organisations that is up to local authorities. The Food Standard Agency (FSA) permits local authorities to request a Declaration of Compliance for jars to ensure they meet food hygiene regulations.
I hope that clarifies the situation for you.”
by City_C10
Saturday, October 20 2012, 3:52PM
“Shocking!”
by JayBe11
Saturday, October 20 2012, 12:04PM
“@ Eastonian,
Really? You might want to follow the link posted below.
Key phrase: "There are no EU laws, new or old, which ban re-using old jam jars for fetes. The EU also has no powers to fine people."”
by Eastonian
Saturday, October 20 2012, 8:22AM
“I think the jar safety rules have been around since 2004 if I'm not mistaken and just highlights how much these EU bureaucrats have impinged on our daily lives. As if they haven't got more important things to concern themselves with.”