It's a staple of our diet but the great British loaf is under threat from the European Union according to MPs, as Political Editor Jonathan Walker reports.

It symbolises centuries of British tradition and, according to some of our elected representatives, it's threatened by the bureaucrats of Brussels.

The British loaf of bread has been sold in the UK in sizes that have existed since the 13th century. Proposals from Europe now mean the abolition of rules on the weight of wrapped bread, which will end loaf sizes, as well as weights of butter, milk and sugar.

Black Country MP John Spellar (Lab Warley) has joined forces with colleagues from across the country and the political divide to support the campaign backing British bread.

"My message to the European Commission is 'use your loaf' and scrap this change," he said.

But MEPs and the Commission itself insisted the allegations were just the latest in a long line of myths about the European Union.

Instead of banning traditional measures, the European Parliament is discussing plans to give manufacturers the freedom to produce smaller loaves, said West Midlands MEP Malcolm Harbour (Con).

Packages with as few as four slices could be sold under the proposed rule changes. The idea is to provide bread suitable for single people, who are unlikely to get through a whole loaf before it gets stale. Many people live alone and often have to bin the remains of standard loaves, the Commission claimed.

The deregulation is also designed to encourage competition, by allowing producers of bread in other parts of the EU to export their goods to the UK without needed to conform to British weights.

But 16 MPs at Westminster have signed a Commons motion condemning the changes, saying they would "end loaf sizes in the UK that have existed since the 13th century".

They claimed smaller loaves would confuse shoppers and could provide an opportunity for unscrupulous manufacturers to rip off buyers.

The MPs also back claims by the Federation of Bakers that the change will cause confusion and could drive prices up, and any move away from standard loaves will require new equipment.

Mr Spellar said: "The standard weight and description of bread has served British consumers well over decades, indeed centuries. There is no need to change it for bureaucratic convenience."

But Mr Harbour said there was nothing to stop anyone making bread just as they do now.

"The changes don't abolish anything, and certainly not the traditional British loaf. What we have been talking about is removing restrictions to give people more choice.

"But manufacturers could just carry on as they do now if they want. The fact is that there are a lot more people living alone, and they might want to be allowed to buy smaller loaves.

"We've actually added an amendment giving national governments the power to keep restrictions on bread if they choose to."

A spokesman for the European Commission said: "There is no intention to abolish the standard traditional British loaf. That is ridiculous.

"People can continue to package bread in any way they want."

Under current weights and measures laws, standard loaves in the UK should weigh either 400 or 800 grams.

The European Union has been the subject of a number of myths and misunderstandings. Here are some of the best:

Ban on Bombay Mix
The story: EU officials wanted Bombay mix to be renamed Mumbai mix, because the Indian city of Mumbai had been called Bombay during colonial rule.
The truth: "Completely ludicrous" says the EU Commission.

Toys for pigs
The story: Farmers would be forced go give pigs toys to give them something to play with in their pen.
The truth: The EU has ruled that pigs need something to do, but giving them straw or hay is fine.

Curved bananas to be banned
The story: Bendy bananas would be banned from the shelves under this bonkers EU plan.
The truth: Not entirely untrue, as bananas have now been classified according to size for and quality – and the straighter they are, the higher the quality is said to be. Furthermore, every banana must be "free from malformation or abnormal curvature".

The Eurosausage
The story: The European Commission hatched a plan to re-name the British banger an "emulsified high-fat offal tube".
The truth: This was an episode of Yes Minister which passed into legend. Jim Hacker becomes Prime Minister after successfully saving the Great British Banger.

Ambulances must be re-painted
The story: Traditional white British ambulances are to be repainted yellow to bring them into line with Europe.
The truth: "There is no EU legislation that advocates the use of particular colours on emergency vehicles," says the EU commission.

Cadbury must call its chocolate "vegelate"
The story: EU bureaucrats decided British chocolate must be labelled '"vegelate" or "milk chocolate with a high milk content" to distinguish it from Continental chocolate made to a different recipe.
The truth: There were no plans to change the name of chocolate, but new rules were introduced to ensure ingredients were listed clearly.

Queen's corgis under threat
The story: Some corgis, along with bulldogs, cocker spaniels and King Charles spaniels, could be among 100 breeds banned.
The truth: These plans were drawn up by a body called the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals which is nothing to do with the European Union and has no power.

Double deckers to be banned
The story: Double decker buses are under threat because they are presumed less safe and accessible to disabled passengers.
The truth: New buses must be designed in line with regulations about safety and disabled access, but they can still be double deckers. Old buses are not affected.

Firemen to lose their poles
The story: European safety directives mean firemen must to walk down the stairs instead of using poles.
The truth: These directives simply don't exist, says the European Commission.

Kilts are for girls
The story: The European Commission has branded kilts "womenswear".
The truth: A questionnaire sent to manufacturers by the UK Office of National Statistics requested that kilts be listed as "women's apparel". The European Union was not involved.