News 01.11.2010

foodwatch comes to the Netherlands: office opened in Amsterdam

  • About foodwatch

foodwatch is coming to the Netherlands! From now on, consumer rights organisation foodwatch will be fighting for safe foods and exposing the advertising lies of the food industry across the border in the Netherlands, expanding its geographical reach after seven successful years in Germany.

On Saturday evening, the new sister organisation was officially launched with the appearance of Dutch foodwatch director Bart van Opzeeland on the consumer television programme “Kassa” produced by Vara Broadcasting Association. foodwatch will be appearing regularly on the weekly programme to expose cases of misleading food labelling.

Most of the laws governing the food market are made in the EU, whose policies are highly influenced by a powerful industry lobby. By broadening its focus to include more European countries, foodwatch is taking a logical step towards establishing an independent and strong representation for consumer interests in other EU Member States.

The work of foodwatch Netherlands, organised as a Dutch “stichting” (foundation), will be coordinated from the new office in Amsterdam under the direction of Bart van Opzeeland. Prior to his appointment as Dutch foodwatch director, the 38-year-old biologist and toxins expert worked as a campaign and project manager for Greenpeace, Fairfood and UNESCO.