French supermarket chain Super U takes aim at ‘controversial’ chemicals

French supermarket chain Super U, a division of the Rungis, France-based retailer cooperative Système U, has vowed to remove or reduce 90 “controversial” substances from its private brands, including palm oil, monosodium glutamate, aspartame, bisphenol A and high-fructose corn syrup, noting consumer fears and the “cocktail effect,” reported FoodQualityNews.com in an article posted Feb. 9.

The retailer based the list of chemicals on consumer concerns. “These concerns are amplified by television, print media and some scientific discussions but also by a lack of information,” Super U is quoted as saying. “Consumers, rightly or wrongly, come to the conclusions on the toxicity of these substances.”

Super U also stated that it is targeting the chemicals partly because of the “cocktail effect” — the cumulative effect of many substances in the body even though they may individually be safe.

To learn more, read the article athttp://http://www.foodqualitynews.com/Regulation-and-safety/Clean-label-cull-French-supermarket-cuts-90-controversial-substances-from-private-label-products.