Government steps in to clarify post-Brexit marmalade naming rules
The government has confirmed that Marmalade will not need to be renamed as a result of a post-Brexit trade deal. This follows media reports raising alarm that preserved fruit on British supermarket shelves should be relabelled as “citrus marmalade”.
The proposed rebranding reportedly stems from EU rules the Government is prepared to adopt under the food deal. Reports have indicated that these rules include a relaxation of regulations by Brussels that broadens the definition of marmalade.
This relaxation will allow other jams to be sold under this name, as long as the type of fruit used in the product is mentioned. In particular, it is notable that the original EU law, which gave special status to orange marmalade and meant that other jams had to be labeled as jams, was the product of a British-led lobbying campaign in the 1970s.
A Government source pointed out that marmalade on supermarket shelves in the UK is currently generally labeled as “orange marmalade” or “Seville orange marmalade”, suggesting that these comply with EU rules.
The source states that the term “citrus” in the EU directive can be replaced with the name of the fruit used in marmalade.
A government source said: “It’s not that sticky after all. The only ‘marmalade frenzy’ is the Conservatives and Reform fuming over jar labels that won’t need to be changed.”
“Orange marmalade will be protected despite false claims that it is called toast, so there is no need to raise alarm.”
Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel was among those who criticized the Government over the threat of a name change for Marmalade.
He wrote on social media site X: “Labor Party now attacking great British marmalade!
“I’ve never known Keir to be so desperate to align with his friends in the EU and cancel Brexit, now he’s trying to change the name of British marmalade to align with the EU.”
