Confectionery industry open to pan-EU 250 calorie cap per portion | Progresiv
Nestlé, Mars and Mondelēz are willing to discuss setting an industry-wide 250 kcal limit on confectionery portions across Europe. 
Ferrero says it has already gone further with a 130 kcal per portion cap on any new products.
Calls for industry-wide calorie caps follow a debate on portion control at the European confectionery association's CAOBISCO's recent annual meeting moderated by ConfectioneryNews.
Speaking during the debate, Richard Wood, nutrition, science and regulatory affairs manager at Nestle, said the Swiss firm would welcome and open discussion with the industry on setting category specific benchmarks on calories per portion.
Roberto Menta, director of nutrition & sustainability at Ferrero's subsidiary Soremartec, said the company had already gone further than a 250 kcal cap per portion. Almost 70% Ferrero products in 2014/2015 were under 100 kcal per portion and any new products must be below 130 kcal for single wrapped portion.
3% of Ferrero products in 2014/2015 was over 200 kcal in 2014/2015 and 26.86% was between 100 and 200 kcal per portion.
Rob Verhagen, global director for health & wellbeing at Mars Chocolate, said it was important for the industry to align. Mars committed to developing single serving sizes of less than 250 kcal in 2010.
A Mondelez spokesperson said: “As the role Portion Control products play is very important, we welcome further work with peer companies on aligning an approach, both on product improvement and consumer information/education that is meaningful for consumers.
The Cadbury and Milka producer has pledged to grow “Portion Control” products within its portofolio by 25% until 2020. It defines Portion Control products as individually wrapped products that have 200 calories or less.
In Europe, portion sizes are set by branded manufacturers rather than the European Food Safety Athority (EFSA).
From December this year, European firms must list nutrition criteria by portion as well as per 100g, under the incoming Food Information for Consumers (FIC) regulation.
The European Commission encourages companies to take account of actual consumption behaviour as well as dietary recommendations and can take action for unfair business-to-consumer practices. But companies are able to determine their own portion sizes for products. (www.confectionerynews.com)
