Unfit for Human Consumption:The Elusive Element in the EU Food Safety Concept of Article 14 GFL

摘要

According to Article 14(2) of Regulation 178/2002 'the General Food Law,' unsafe food, the core concept in EU food safety law, encompasses food that is injurious to health as well as food unfit for human consumption. This article reports on an empirical study of interpretations in several EU Member States of the concept 'unfit for human consumption'. It appears that a broad spectrum of conditions and situations is brought under this concept. Interpretations among Member States vary considerably. Substantive, procedural and communicational non-compliances may be grouped under the concept. Also, not otherwise regulated conditions may lead to the classification of food as unfit for human consumption.