Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of a report from the Institute of Global Food Security that 25 per cent of samples of oregano tested are contaminated, what discussions they are having with food retailers to ensure that the public can have confidence in the labelling of food products.

Food labelling rules require that information provided about food must not mislead the consumer. Food business operators are responsible for ensuring that labelling complies with the law. The law is enforced by local authorities which set their own policies.

The Food Standards Agency is aware of the oregano sampling exercise earlier this year, which revealed that of seventy-eight samples, nineteen were also found to contain olive or myrtle leaves. Levels ranged between 21% and 69%.

Guidance on the Authenticity of Herbs and Spices, an industry best practice guide developed by representatives from the British Retail Consortium, the Food and Drink Federation, the Seasoning and Spice Association, and the FSA was published on 7 June.

The guidance represents the culmination of a strand of work the FSA undertook together with industry after the recall of a number of products early in 2015 following the discovery of undeclared almond protein in cumin and paprika. The FSA provides advice on supply chain verification and understanding vulnerabilities, as well as on sampling, inspection and testing.