LONDON — Lawmakers in the United Kingdom's House of Commons debated proposed changes to the definition of marmalade, with members from multiple parties expressing concern about the future of the citrus-based breakfast spread. Under a food and drink deal with the European Union, marmalade sold in Britain would have to be relabeled "citrus marmalade" as the U.K. government plans to align its food rules with those of the EU to ease post-Brexit trade.

The labeling change stems from a shift in EU regulations that occurred after Britain left the bloc. A rule introduced at Britain's request when it was an EU member had allowed only preserves made from citrus fruit to be called marmalade. After Britain's exit, the EU decreed that member states could use the word marmalade for non-citrus fruit spreads as long as the type of fruit is identified on the label. The proposed U.K. alignment with those updated EU rules would require the addition of "citrus" before "marmalade" on British product labels.

Food Security Minister Angela Eagle said there would be a small change to the marmalade description rules and that the real-world impact would be minimal and consumers were unlikely to notice any difference. The U.K. government has said that marmalade sold in Britain is usually labeled "orange marmalade" or "Seville orange marmalade" and is already in compliance with EU rules.

Opposition Conservative foreign affairs spokeswoman Priti Patel accused the government of attacking the great British marmalade during the House of Commons debate.

Opposition Liberal Democrat lawmaker Tessa Munt called for a full parliamentary debate on the definition of marmalade and urged the government to ensure that only citrus fruits can precede the word marmalade on labels. Munt said she had seen strawberry marmalade and pear marmalade on sale in an upmarket grocery store, citing the products as examples of the labeling practices she wanted to prevent.