Food transparency concerns rise over labeling and contaminants

Recent discussions regarding food transparency highlight the gap between consumer perceptions and the actual contents of food products. While consumers rely on labels and certifications, many substances such as pesticide residues, PFAS, heavy metals, and microplastics may be present even within legal limits, often without being disclosed to the buyer.

To address this, the TrustyFood platform has launched a model focused on providing objective data through independent laboratory analysis of individual production lots. This approach aims to offer verifiable information on contaminants that standard European regulations may not systematically monitor.

In the poultry sector, the EggTrack 2025 report by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has raised concerns about the clarity of egg labeling. Specifically, the term ‘barn-raised’ (code 2) can be misleading. While it indicates hens are not in cages, it often includes multi-tier aviary systems with high density that function similarly to open cages, despite being legally classified as ‘cage-free’ within the European Union.