Food Labels:
Knowing whats on them!
What is a Food Label?
It provides information from the food
manufacturer to the consumer.
It helps tell consumers what they are
buying.
What should Food Labels tell you?
Some information on Food Labels is:
Mandatory - the manufacturer/packer
has to include it by law.
Voluntary the manufacturer/packer may
or may not include it.
Labelling Requirements
By E.U. Law all food products must show the
following basic information:
List of Ingredients
Shelf Life
Storage Instructions
Product Name
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
Number of servings
(drinks containing over 150mg/l
of caffeine)
* 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)
The name should be:
Established by law;
Customary in the area where the product
is sold;
A description of the product.
What about the name of the food? (2)
The name must:
Show if the food has gone through any
sort of process:
e.g. smoked mackerel, dried apple slices
Can you give some more examples?
What about the picture and the name?
The picture must
not mislead the
consumer!
The List of Ingredients
What do you know about
- what is found on an the List of Ingredients?
- how the list should be written?
The List of Ingredients
The ingredients list:
Tells the consumers the ingredients that
have been used in manufacturing the food;
Is written in descending order by weight So the first ingredient on the list is the
ingredient of which there is most in the
product, the second ingredient the second
most etc.;
Also lists permitted additives.
Nutrition Information
Is nutrition information always available on
the food label?
What information is given when there is a
nutrition label?
Nutrition Information (1)
Information is sometimes given on the nutrient
content of the food.
Information is generally given on the gram
content of the macronutrients proteins,
carbohydrates (of which sugars is sometimes
also included), fats (of which saturates is
sometimes also included).
The label may also list grams of Fibre.
The label may also list milligram or microgram
content of micronutrients, e.g. Salt (g) /
Sodium (mg), vitamins etc.
It will always give the energy value.
Nutrition Information (2)
Nutrients are listed
as amount:
per 100g or
per serving or
both.
Energy is listed in
kilocalories or
kilojoules
Nutrition Information (3)
Have you heard of the term G.D.A.?
Do you know what G.D.A. is short for?
What type information do G.D.A.s supply
us with?
What are G.D.A.s?
G.D.A.s = Guideline Daily Amounts
G.D.A.s tell you how much (%) of the
amount of a nutrient that you are
recommended to consume daily is provided
by a portion of the product.
G.D.A.s found on the food label are based
on the recommendations for an average
adult or child of healthy weight and average
activity level.
Specific 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.s
Are there usually any other symbols or
instructions on the food label?
Vegetarian Symbol
A symbol indicating that a food is suitable for
vegetarians
NOTE: The ingredients may not necessarily
be suitable for vegans who do not consume
any animal foods
Allergen Information
Any foods that has been specially
manufactured to meet the allergy-related
requirements of a particular group must
indicate this clearly on the label!
Gluten-Free Symbol
A gluten-free label can make life much
easier for those with coeliac disease or
gluten intolerance as it is difficult to find
foods without gluten.
Organic Labelling
The simplest way to tell if a product is
organic is to look for the:
Official Organic Farming Label
European Certifying Authority
code number.
What must be present by law are the words
'organic certification' followed by a code.
Litter Man Symbol
Encourages people to dispose of litter
properly.
Helps in safeguarding our environment
Freezing Instructions
Given if the product can be frozen.
A symbol is shown on the label with
instructions.
Freezing Symbol
Cooking Instructions
Given for food
products that
need to be cooked
on the hob or in
an oven.
Microwave Instructions
A microwave symbol is often included on
packs when the food is microwavable.
Typically there are also details of how long
and at what power the food should be
heated in the microwave oven.
Some food is already packed in
microwavable containers so that it is ready
to cook / reheat.
Symbol often put near
microwave instructions
Different Types of Date Code
Use By
Best Before
Best Before End
Display Until
Use By
Used for foods that are
microbiologically highly
perishable and might
harm humans if
consumed beyond a
certain date.
Often used for chilled
foods:
e.g. sandwiches, fresh
juices and fresh meat
products
Use By date
Best Before
Written in the form of Day, Month, Year
Used for products that have a shelf-life of
three months or less.
e.g. bread, biscuits, crisps and sweets.
Best Before End
Alternative to Best Before date
Used for products that have a shelf-life of
three months or less.
May be
expressed in
a month or year
only format.
Best Before End
So what is the difference between the date
labels best before end and best before?
Display Until
Not required by
regulations.
Used by the store
to tell them to
remove the
product from the
shelves by a
certain date.
Display Until
Bar Code
This registers the sale of the product once
the packet or tin is passed over the
scanner at the supermarket.
It is useful for the shop owner for
stocktaking purposes.
It is useful for the consumer as the food
products bought are itemised in the
receipt.
Behind The Bar Code
EAN STANDARD 13-DIGIT ARTICLE
NUMBER AND BARCODE
So lets list the mandatory items we find
on a food label.
Now lets list some voluntary items we find
on a food label.
Are there any of these voluntary items
which you feel should be mandatory?
REMEMBER!
It is an offence to label or advertise a food
so as to mislead people!
