THE actions of Environmental Health officers who told travelling French food sellers to translate their food labels into English has been defended.

Health Minister Stuart Syvret says the officers were behaving properly and professionally and were acting on behalf of the public.

At the Foire de Jersey at the Royal Showground in Trinity over the weekend some stall holders of the visiting French market were told to translate the labels on their food into English and list the ingredients.

Allegedly the owner of a pâté stall was asked to label over 100 different types of pâté he had on sale and he refused.

He has since said he would not be returning.

But Senator Syvret was confident his department were doing their jobs correctly.

He said: ‘The only requirement that was asked for was for a labelling of the stall describing the contents of each type of product.

This is important for health protections reasons.’