The European Chef’s Association calls for the EP’s protection of small farmers and healthy nutrition

2010-11-09

Euro-Toques International, the Association of the European Chefs invited the Agricultural Committee of the European Parliament and the MEPs interested in healthy nutrition to an extraordinary meeting.


The aim of the organizers was to ask for the MEPs support in moderating the EU’s hygienic and food safety regulations, with regard to the preservation of the traditional production methods. These regulations are so strict that they endanger the activities of small farmer in many member states, especially in the newly ascended ones.

The subject is on the agenda due to a report adopted by the EP on labeling of quality foods. The Chef’s Association requests decision makers’ aid in preserving the European traditional cuisine by facilitating the distribution of small farmer’s goods and adopting a logo guaranteeing for the European provenience of products. It is their main argument that chefs are the link between small farmers and EU citizens interested in responsible consumption and through their creativity they aid in elimination cheap, but unhealthy nutrition.

In his remarks, DAHR’s MEP Csaba Sógor urged the usage of local and regional products, the protection of small farmers and the adherence of Transylvanian chefs to the European organization. - Nutrition is important to our life because it influences our greatest possession, our health. We need to teach our children to appreciate Hungarian and Transylvanian dishes; we need to pass onto them our heritage: the secrets of the kitchen known by our grandparents, secrets about spices and food preservation.

MEP from all political groups in the EP agreed that our most important duty is to establish a long-term food safety strategy. In this regard, many stated that multinational fast-food chains cannot be exceptions to the rules.
- The protection of the European agriculture and the quality foods is out right and duty. Cooking and preparing food at home requires time, but it is worth the effort – said Csaba Sógor.