Charities barred from endorsing health foods

Major charities involved in fighting cancer and heart disease could lose millions of pounds a year under proposals from Brussels to ban them from endorsing healthy foods.

Major charities involved in fighting cancer and heart disease could lose millions of pounds a year under proposals from Brussels to ban them from endorsing healthy foods.

The move comes as part of sweeping reforms of the way food companies and supermarkets make health claims for thousands of popular products, ranging from "low-fat" ready meals to vitamin-enriched cereals.

The European Commission argues that shoppers are often misled by confusing or unproven health claims about foods. It wants to see each claim scientifically proven with strict controls on how foods are judged to be low fat, "diet" or low salt.

But in one of the most contentious proposals of all, it has recommended that charities should be barred completely from endorsing foods - a measure that would cost the British Heart Foundation alone more than £1m a year.

Commercial deals with supermarkets are a vital source of funds for major charities and play a vital part in public health campaigns.

Cancer Research UK earns about £500,000 a year with Tesco, while the BHF has tie-ins with Tetley's and Shredded Wheat.

The proposals are being fought by the Government, MEPs, health experts and food retailers. Backed by the European Parliament, the UK is pressing for a compromise deal, which could mean that charities and retailers must get scientific approval for each endorsement.