foodwatch accuses EU Commission of failing to act on prevention of cardiovascular diseases

consumer organisation calls for binding legislation to improve public health

foodwatch has accused the European Commission of failing to take the scientifically proven measures necessary to help combat illnesses linked to unhealthy diets. Although the Commission emphasises in its cardiovascular ‘Safe Hearts’ plan published today that it takes prevention seriously, it fails to propose strong measures. The international consumer organisation called on the Commission to implement effective legislation such as a ban on marketing unhealthy food to children, an age limit for energy drinks and a mandatory Nutri-Score.

"Today’s proposal is a missed opportunity and shows once again that this Commission is not willing to put measures in place that will protect public health, even for our children," explains Suzy Sumner, head of the Brussels office for foodwatch international. "Legislation to ban marketing of unhealthy food to children, prohibit the sales of energy drinks to minors and put in place a mandatory and harmonised Nutri-Score across the EU are measures that are scientifically backed. We face an urgent public health crisis that is costing hundreds of billions in treating avoidable diseases every year. There will be no improvement without legislation."

According to the EU Cardiovascular health plan (EU CVHP) which came out today, cardiovascular disease is “the biggest public health challenge in the EU”, costing EUR 282 billion per year. Nearly 80% of cases are preventable and due to lifestyle choices, and the food we eat plays an important role. There are specific and important challenges for children and adolescents. Yet despite these shocking facts, the CVHP is weak on legislative measures that will make a real difference, criticised foodwatch. In an open letter to the heads of DG Sante and DG Agri the consumer organisation demanded concrete political measures and that the corporate lobby, with clear financial interests, are kept out of the decision-making process for public health.

foodwatch criticizes “food and feed safety omnibus”

The Omnibus on food safety that also came out today shows again that prevention of disease and protecting public health is not a priority of this commission, and neither is the due democratic process. With the food and feed safety Omnibus, the Commission intends to rewrite rules on pesticides, pesticide residues, feed additives, BSE safeguards, and border controls in a single legislative sweep. foodwatch criticised this as an alarming attempt to dismantle essential consumer protections under the guise of “simplification” and “competitiveness.” For example, the EU Commission wants to make indefinite approvals for pesticides active substances the general rule. The regular safety checks that have been mandatory for all substances up to now would become the exception. This means that questioning existing authorisations based on the latest scientific knowledge would be even more difficult and time-consuming than is currently the case.

"Citizens – and the protections built over decades of EU law-making – seem to be the forgotten victims of what looks like a predictable disaster. This exercise of dismantling safeguards strikes at the very core of the European food safety system that the rest of the world envies. We need stronger laws and better implementation, not shortcuts for agrifood corporations", said Natacha Cingotti, lead for campaign strategy at foodwatch international.

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  EU Cardiovascular plan published on 16/12/2025
• Omnibus package on food and feed safety
• foodwatch contribution to the consultation on EU CVHP

• foodwatch response to the leaked Omnibus on food safety
• foodwatch open letter

• Study by France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment