“It will have serious consequences for the promotion of organic food in workplaces that the state labeling scheme is abolished,” says Anne-Sofie Hattesen, ESG Manager at Compass Group.
The government and an almost unanimous parliament have recently approved the budget for 2024, which includes the abolition of the Organic Eating Label.
“It is completely incomprehensible to us that when we have a common Danish goal of increasing the proportion of organic ingredients, a well-functioning system that contributes to supporting the demand for organic food is chosen to be removed. The state-controlled label is a crucial driver in the development of sustainable practices in Danish workplaces. The Organic Eating Label has been a guiding light in our green transformation and a valuable tool in daily operations, symbolizing quality and credibility. We find that our customers and their employees greatly appreciate the transparency associated with the label,” says Anne-Sofie Hattesen.
However, Anne-Sofie Hattesen notes with some optimism that Minister of Food Jacob Jensen (V) stated in a written response to the Parliament on Tuesday that he is open to exploring a solution to save the Organic Eating Label: “We sincerely hope that the minister listens to the criticism that has been raised. We serve 100,000 Danes every day, so we know what it means if it is abolished. Then you open the door wide for each individual actor to assess how the organic percentage is calculated,” she says.
Most Danes have at least one of their daily meals in a canteen. At Compass Group, we operate over 350 canteens in Denmark, serving 100,000 people daily, making us the largest canteen operator in the private Danish market.
The risk of greenwashing increases
“A common standard is important to ensure proper documentation of the proportion of organic ingredients. There is a risk that in the future, it will be impossible for consumers to decipher the credibility of the messages. The risk of greenwashing increases. With the many meals we produce on a daily basis, we have a great responsibility to introduce Danes to good organic meals. The labeling scheme has been a guarantee to our guests that we live up to what we promise. In short, it is a setback for the transparency and incentive structure of the green transition. And thus, an own goal,” says Anne-Sofie Hattesen.
FACTS
The Organic Eating Label
The Organic Eating Label is a free state-controlled labeling scheme for eateries. The Organic Eating Label indicates the proportion of purchased food and beverages at the eatery that is organic. Both public and private eateries can obtain the Organic Eating Label. The label comes in three versions: gold (90-100%), silver (60-90%), and bronze (30-60%). Currently, about 3,460 eateries in Denmark have the Organic Eating Label. The label can be used by all professional kitchens registered in the smiley scheme. The scheme is inspired by similar successful labels in Norway, France, Holland, and Germany.