Food Labels

Food Labels:Food Labels:

Knowing what’s on them!Knowing what’s on them!

What is a Food Label?What is a Food Label?

It provides information from the food It provides information from the food manufacturer to the consumer.manufacturer to the consumer.

It helps tell consumers what they are It helps tell consumers what they are buying.buying.

What should Food Labels tell you?What should Food Labels tell you?

Some information on Food Labels is:Some information on Food Labels is:

MandatoryMandatory - the manufacturer/packer has - the manufacturer/packer has to include it by law.to include it by law.

Voluntary Voluntary – the manufacturer/packer may – the manufacturer/packer may or may not include it.or may not include it.

Labelling RequirementsLabelling Requirements

By E.U. Law all food products must show By E.U. Law all food products must show the following basic information:the following basic information:

Product Name

List of Ingredients Shelf Life

Storage Instructions

Name and Address of Manufacturer

Country of Origin

Weight of Product Instructions for Use

Mandatory food labelling requirements

Voluntary* information sometimes provided

Name Nutrition information (if no claims made)

List of ingredients Nutrition signposting

Quantity of certain ingredients (e.g. pork (10%)

Guideline Daily Amounts

Net quantity (weights & measures)

Claims such as ‘no artificial additives’

Date of minimum durability (‘best before’ or ‘use by’)

Graphical and pictorial information

The name and address of manufacturer/ packer/ seller

Vegetarian/ vegan labelling

Place of origin (if failure to do so might mislead)

May contain (e.g. nuts) labelling

* Based on information provided voluntarily in the UK 

Mandatory food labelling requirements

Voluntary* information sometimes provided

Instructions for use (if failure to do so might mislead)

Assurance schemes

Allergen information (in the ingredient list)

Method of slaughter  (e.g. Halal)

Alcoholic strength by volume (drinks over 1.2% only)

Free range (e.g. eggs)

Quinine labelling Marketing terms (e.g. fresh, pure, natural)

High caffeine content warning (drinks containing over 150mg/l of caffeine)

Number of servings 

* Based on information provided voluntarily in the UK 

Mandatory food labelling requirements

Voluntary* information sometimes provided

Sweeteners labelling Environmental impact (e.g. dolphin friendly)

Polyol warning (‘excessive consumption may produce a laxative effect’)

Country of origin (where not required)

PKU warning (‘contains a source of phenylalanine’)

Customary or descriptive names

Packaging gases (‘packaged in a protective atmosphere’)

Quality type claims (e.g. ‘100% chicken breast’ 

*

* Based on information provided voluntarily in the UK 

Mandatory food labelling requirements

Voluntary* information sometimes provided

Raw milk labelling Special offer competitions

GMO labelling Production methods (e.g. organic)

Irradiated food labelling (‘irradiated’ or ‘treated with ionising radiation’)

Logos

Nutritional Panel (where a nutritional claim is made: e.g. low in fat

Brand information

*

* Based on information provided voluntarily in the UK 

What about the name of the food? (1)What about the name of the food? (1)

The name should be:The name should be:

Established by law; Established by law;

Customary in the area where the product Customary in the area where the product is sold;is sold;

A description of the product.A description of the product.

What about the name of the food? (2)What about the name of the food? (2)

The name must:The name must:Show if the food has gone through any Show if the food has gone through any sort of process: sort of process:

e.g. smoked mackerel, dried apple slicese.g. smoked mackerel, dried apple slices

Can you give some more examples?Can you give some more examples?

What about the picture and the name?What about the picture and the name?

The picture must The picture must not mislead the not mislead the consumer!consumer!

The List of IngredientsThe List of Ingredients

What do you know about … What do you know about …

- what is found on an the List of Ingredients?- what is found on an the List of Ingredients?

- how the list should be written?- how the list should be written?

The List of Ingredients The List of Ingredients

The ingredients list:The ingredients list:

Tells the consumers the ingredients that Tells the consumers the ingredients that have been used in manufacturing the food;have been used in manufacturing the food;

Is written in descending order by weight - Is written in descending order by weight - So the first ingredient on the list is the So the first ingredient on the list is the ingredient of which there is most in the ingredient of which there is most in the product, the second ingredient the second product, the second ingredient the second most etc.;most etc.;

Also lists permitted additives.Also lists permitted additives.

Nutrition InformationNutrition Information

Is nutrition information always available on Is nutrition information always available on the food label?the food label?

What information is given when there is aWhat information is given when there is a

nutrition label?nutrition label?

Nutrition Information (1)Nutrition Information (1)Information is sometimes given on the nutrient Information is sometimes given on the nutrient content of the food.content of the food.

Information is generally given on the gram Information is generally given on the gram content of the macronutrients – proteins, content of the macronutrients – proteins, carbohydrates (‘of which sugars’ is sometimes carbohydrates (‘of which sugars’ is sometimes also included), fats (‘of which saturates’ is also included), fats (‘of which saturates’ is sometimes also included).sometimes also included).

The label may also list grams of Fibre.The label may also list grams of Fibre.

The label may also list milligram or microgram The label may also list milligram or microgram content of micronutrients, e.g. Salt (g) / content of micronutrients, e.g. Salt (g) / Sodium (mg), vitamins etc.Sodium (mg), vitamins etc.

It will always give the energy value.It will always give the energy value.

Nutrition Information (2)Nutrition Information (2)

Nutrients are listed Nutrients are listed as amount:as amount:– per 100g or per 100g or – per serving or per serving or – both.both.

Energy is listed in Energy is listed in kilocalories or kilocalories or kilojouleskilojoules

Have you heard of the term G.D.A.?Have you heard of the term G.D.A.?

Do you know what G.D.A. is short for?Do you know what G.D.A. is short for?

What type information do G.D.A.s supply What type information do G.D.A.s supply us with?us with?

Nutrition Information (3)Nutrition Information (3)

What are G.D.A.s?What are G.D.A.s?

G.D.A.s = Guideline Daily Amounts G.D.A.s = Guideline Daily Amounts

G.D.A.s tell you how much (%) of the G.D.A.s tell you how much (%) of the amount of a nutrient that you are amount of a nutrient that you are recommended to consume daily is provided recommended to consume daily is provided by a portion of the product. by a portion of the product.

G.D.A.s found on the food label are based G.D.A.s found on the food label are based on the recommendations for an average on the recommendations for an average adult or child of healthy weight and average adult or child of healthy weight and average activity level. activity level.

Specific G.D.A.sSpecific G.D.A.s

Calories Sugars Fat Saturates Salt

Women 2000 90g 70g 20g 6g

Men 2500 120g 95g 30g 6g

Children 5-10

1800 85g 70g 20g 4g

Label With G.D.A.sLabel With G.D.A.s

Are there usually any other symbols or Are there usually any other symbols or instructions on the food label?instructions on the food label?

Vegetarian SymbolVegetarian Symbol

A symbol indicating that a food is suitable for A symbol indicating that a food is suitable for vegetariansvegetarians

NOTE: The ingredients may not necessarily NOTE: The ingredients may not necessarily be suitable for vegans who do not consume be suitable for vegans who do not consume any animal foodsany animal foods

Allergen Information Allergen Information

Any foods that has been specially Any foods that has been specially

manufactured to meet the allergy-related manufactured to meet the allergy-related

requirements of a particular group must requirements of a particular group must

indicate this clearly on the label! indicate this clearly on the label!

Gluten-Free SymbolGluten-Free Symbol

A gluten-free label can make life much A gluten-free label can make life much easier for those with coeliac disease or easier for those with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance as it is difficult to find gluten intolerance as it is difficult to find foods without gluten.foods without gluten.

Organic LabellingOrganic Labelling

The simplest way to tell if a product is The simplest way to tell if a product is

organic is to look for the:organic is to look for the:

Official ‘Organic Farming’ LabelOfficial ‘Organic Farming’ Label

European Certifying Authority European Certifying Authority code number. code number. – What must be present by law are the words What must be present by law are the words

'organic certification' followed by a code. 'organic certification' followed by a code.

Litter Man SymbolLitter Man Symbol

Encourages people to dispose of litter Encourages people to dispose of litter properly.properly.

Helps in safeguarding our environmentHelps in safeguarding our environment

Freezing InstructionsFreezing Instructions

Given if the product can be frozen. Given if the product can be frozen.

A symbol is shown on the label with A symbol is shown on the label with instructions. instructions.

Freezing Symbol

Cooking InstructionsCooking Instructions

Given for food Given for food products that products that need to be cooked need to be cooked on the hob or in on the hob or in an oven.an oven.

Microwave InstructionsMicrowave Instructions

A microwave symbol is often included on A microwave symbol is often included on packs when the food is ‘microwavable’.packs when the food is ‘microwavable’.

Typically there are also details of how long Typically there are also details of how long and at what power the food should be and at what power the food should be heated in the microwave oven. heated in the microwave oven.

Some food is already packed in Some food is already packed in microwavable containers so that it is ready microwavable containers so that it is ready to cook / reheat.to cook / reheat.

Symbol often put near microwave instructions

Different Types of Date CodeDifferent Types of Date Code

Use By Best Before

Best Before End Display Until

Use ByUse By

Used for foods that Used for foods that are microbiologically are microbiologically highly perishable and highly perishable and might harm humans if might harm humans if consumed beyond a consumed beyond a certain date.certain date.

Often used for chilled Often used for chilled foods: foods: e.g. sandwiches, fresh e.g. sandwiches, fresh juices and fresh meat juices and fresh meat productsproducts Use By date

Best BeforeBest Before

Written in the form of Day, Month, YearWritten in the form of Day, Month, Year

Used for products that have a shelf-life of Used for products that have a shelf-life of three months or less.three months or less.

e.g. bread, biscuits, crisps and sweets.e.g. bread, biscuits, crisps and sweets.

Best Before EndBest Before End

Alternative to ‘Best Before’ dateAlternative to ‘Best Before’ date

Used for products that have a shelf-life of Used for products that have a shelf-life of three months or less.three months or less.

May be May be expressed in expressed in a month or year a month or year only format.only format.

Best Before End

So what is the difference between the date So what is the difference between the date labels ‘best before end’ and ‘best before’?labels ‘best before end’ and ‘best before’?

Display UntilDisplay Until

Not required by Not required by regulations.regulations.

Used by the store Used by the store to tell them to to tell them to remove the product remove the product from the shelves from the shelves by a certain date.by a certain date.

Display Until

Bar CodeBar Code

This registers the sale of the product once This registers the sale of the product once the packet or tin is passed over the the packet or tin is passed over the scanner at the supermarket.scanner at the supermarket.It is useful for the shop owner for It is useful for the shop owner for stocktaking purposes.stocktaking purposes.It is useful for the consumer as the food It is useful for the consumer as the food products bought are itemised in the products bought are itemised in the receipt.receipt.

Behind The Bar CodeBehind The Bar CodeEAN STANDARD 13-DIGIT ARTICLE EAN STANDARD 13-DIGIT ARTICLE NUMBER AND BARCODENUMBER AND BARCODE

So let’s list the mandatory items we find on So let’s list the mandatory items we find on a food label…….a food label…….

Now let’s list some voluntary items we find Now let’s list some voluntary items we find on a food label…….on a food label…….

Are there any of these voluntary items Are there any of these voluntary items which you feel should be mandatory?which you feel should be mandatory?

REMEMBER!REMEMBER!

It is an offence to label or advertise a food It is an offence to label or advertise a food so as to mislead people! so as to mislead people!