Consumer protection: This is what you need to know about legal standards and industry self-regulation that contribute to consumer protection

In the mid-nineteen-nineties the European food industry faced considerable negative media attention. Major food scandals had caused food safety and
public health concerns amongst consumers. This resulted in significant
damage to the reputation of the food industry and a serious loss of consumer
trust. These incidents showed that the then applicable European legislation
had fallen short in protecting the consumer. The European Legislature felt
the urge to adjust the legislation on this matter. At the core of these legal
reforms was the General Food Law (in force as of 2002). Furthermore, in the
food business industry, various forms of self-regulation where introduced to
improve consumer protection. The aim of this chapter is to offer the reader an
introduction to the regulatory methods of consumer protection, with a focus
on the specific legal requirements to food business as well as leading forms of
industry self-regulation. We will also explore contemporary issues and recent
developments on these topics. Finally, we will draw conclusions and look
ahead, and briefly reflect on the potential of using the Nutri-score as a uniform European food label.