Use of colourings in ‘arancia rossa’ juice drinks

20.2.2015

Question for written answer P-002638-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Giovanni La Via (PPE)

Drinks with ‘arancia rossa’ flavour are required to contain a minimum of 12% fruit, while in industrial production of such drinks it is permitted to use colourings that are widely used and legally indicated in the list of ingredients and on the product labelling.

— How can the Commission ensure that checks by the national competent authorities demonstrate the presence of ‘arancia rossa’ rather than of any other kind of oranges coloured with the abovementioned colourings and, if the requisite ‘arancia rossa’ is not present, can the Commission indicate whether production of drinks could qualify as food fraud?— Does the Commission consider that the use of certain colourings, such as E120 (i.e. dried cochineal, that is, insects), could mislead consumers who believe that they are buying a drink based on ‘arancia rossa’?— Does the Commission consider that the list of colourings for food use lacks clarity for consumers and that using insects without clearly indicating on the labelling that they have been used misleads vegetarian or vegan consumers who, if correctly informed, would not buy the product?