Myths and Legends

Myths and Legends

Chris Booker, the legend of the title, it appears has scored a palpable hit against the European Commission. In his 13th February column he pointed out that one of the "Get your facts straight" section of the EU website was itself somewhat crooked.

"A typical "Euromyth", it claims, is that the EU plans to ban advertising slogans such as "Guinness is good for you". Typical Eurosceptic lies, it says. "Slogans like 'Guinness is good for you' will still be with us. In fact the EU has no plans to introduce any new legislation at all.
Martin Callanan, a Tory MEP who sits on the relevant committee of the European Parliament, sends me the text of a regulation currently going through the system, which states that "beverages containing more than 1.2 per cent by volume of alcohol" shall not "bear health claims of any kind". It will become illegal for any "food or nutrient" to make claims implying that it provides " general non-specific benefits" or promotes "overall good health and well-being".
In other words, the use of the slogan "Guinness is good for you" is to become a criminal offence and when the Commission says this is a "myth" what it really means, as on so many other issues, is the precise opposite."

Well what have we here? It seems that the Commission has stealth edited that particular myth off their site. They have now altered the complaint, it no longer attacks a British newspaper and the Guinness slogan but a German newspaper and something completely different

As a friend points out;
"They seem to have forgotten to include the apology for calling us all liars for suggesting that it could be a possibility but I'm sure that was just an oversight.

Now, if we can just get them to admit that the stories on pigs' toys, tractors and smoky flavourings were also true..."