How is ultra processed food going across Europe ?

Not very well.

Brits may struggle to find their favourite snack when they head on holiday in the future, as the European Union has decided to ban smoky bacon crisps.

The decision will likely come as a shock to fans of Frazzles, but it follows research by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which found some artificial smoke flavourings to be a potential health concern.

The flavourings are used as an alternative to smoking meat, and as a way to bring the smoky taste to items that can not be cooked over a flame or in a smokehouse.

The process of obtaining the flavour is known as pyrolysis, which involves purifying smoke to remove harmful components such as ash and tar. The end result is a liquid smoke that can be added to food.


The EFSA's research linked smoky flavourings to genotoxicity, which it said is the 'ability of a chemical to damage the genetic material of cells'. This is a concern as changes or mutations to genetic information within a cell may 'increase the risk of developing conditions like cancer and inherited diseases'.

For this type of toxicity, the EFSA said it was not possible to define a 'safe level' of consumption, so a blanket ban was thought to be the best way to prevent 'worst case scenarios'.

EU member states quietly agreed upon the ban at the end of April, and the smoky flavourings will be phased out completely over the next few years across Europe.

But it's not just crisps that will be impacted by this, as these flavourings are often also added to meat, cheeses, fish, and sauces such as barbecue sauce.

Producers of these products will be given a transition period in order to find an alternative way to flavour the food.

Just in case you were still looking for a proof about the toxicity of junk food.



https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/popular-uk-crisp-flavour-is-being-banned-across-europe-over-health-concerns/ar-BB1ny7eG?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=9ad49e1a3d9349fab78410514b900a8f&ei=20