Francesca Biagioli Labels for honey, juices and jams become more transparent thanks to the Breakfast directive, just implemented by Italy. Various changes will take effect from June 14, 2026
The Council of Ministers of Italy has approved the decree implementing the European “Breakfast” directive. The new regulation aims to improve transparency and traceability of some widely consumed food products, such as honey, fruit juices and jams, providing consumers with more precise information on labels and thus allowing them to make more informed choices.
Let’s see exactly what changes.
What we’ll find on labels
For honey, it will be mandatory to indicate the countries of origin of blends. When raw materials come from multiple countries, the label must list them in descending order with their respective percentages. Only in the case of blends from four countries that constitute at least 60% of the product will it not be necessary to indicate the percentages of other countries.
The definition of “filtered honey” also changes, which will fall under the category of “Honey for industrial use.” The Ministry of Agriculture’s statement explains the change this way:
Until now, this substance was marketed with this wording, but it could mislead buyers. With the implementation of the directive, the name filtered honey falls under the broader definition of “Honey for industrial use,” which better reflects its permitted use, namely exclusively for culinary purposes.
These changes aim to protect domestic production, approximately 24,000 tons annually, from low-quality honey coming from non-EU countries.
As for fruit juices, the directive introduces new categories of fruit juices with reduced sugar content:
- Fruit juice with reduced sugar content
- Fruit juice from concentrate with reduced sugar content
- Concentrated fruit juice with reduced sugar content
These products must contain 30% less sugar than the standard version, offering consumers a clearer choice between classic options and those with lower sugar content.
For jams, the minimum amount of fruit per kilogram increases significantly:
- Jams: from 350 g to 450 g of fruit (35% → 45%)
- Extra jams: from 450 g to 500 g of fruit (45% → 50%)
It should be noted that Italian jams already meet fruit levels higher than the minimum requirements, and the new regulation can help further enhance local products and the national fruit and vegetable sector.
When we’ll find the new labels on honey, juices and jams
The changes introduced by the “Breakfast” directive will become operational starting June 14, 2026. From that date, all new products must display updated labels, with indication of countries of origin for honey, the new categories of reduced-sugar juices and the minimum amount of fruit in jams.
Products already on the market before this date may be sold until stocks are depleted, so it will be possible to encounter both versions of labels in the months following the implementation.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture of Italy
