New warning label for poultry meat

Consumers do not always maintain the optimal kitchen hygiene when storing, preparing and consuming poultry meat. To give consumers clearer information on proper hygiene, the obligatory warning phrase has been changed to an image with pictograms and short text.

What does the new picture say?

• store the product in the refrigerator at a maximum of 4 °C;
• wash hands, cutting board and knife thoroughly after contact with raw meat; and
• cook the meat thoroughly before consumption.

Was the already compulsory warning sentence not effective enough?

In accordance with the Warenwetbesluit bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen [Commodities Act Decree on the preparation and handling of foodstuffs], it had already been compulsory since 2001 for packaged meat from chickens, geese, turkeys or guinea fowl to carry the following statement: 'Take care, don't give harmful bacteria a chance. Make sure that these bacteria do not get into your food through the packaging, your hands or the kitchen utensils. Cook the meat thoroughly to eliminate these bacteria'. In consultation with and supported by research conducted by the RIVM, the Voedingscentrum and the business community, it was decided to increase the effect of the message by changing the compulsory statement into an image.

Location of the image

For pre-packaged poultry meat, the image must be placed in the same visual field as the product name. For non pre-packaged poultry meat, the picture should be placed on the front or back of the package. For non-pre-packaged poultry meat sold by, for example, the butcher, the image may also be given to the purchaser on an information sheet, voucher or leaflet. The picture is not compulsory on frozen poultry meat.

The measures on the new warning label for poultry meat will come into force on 1 July 2022. This means that these obligations must be complied with from that date.

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