EU: MEPs want EU brown sugar to be legally defined

A legal definition of the composition of brown sugar, effective across the European Union, will be drawn up under a new sugar directive, if an amendment passed by the European Parliament is approved by EU ministers. MEPs agreed that "in order to protect consumers, this type of sugar should be defined" within six months of the directive coming into force. In amendments to a related new honey directive, the parliament also ordered that products sold in shops direct to consumers should never have sub-standard bakers' or filtered honey added. Meanwhile regarding a new fruit juice directive, the MEPs voted for limits on pollutants - such as potassium and magnesium - allowed in water used for dilution.