CHAPTER 7 FOOD LABELLING

What are food labels designed to do for consumers?

There are many pieces of information that are MANDATORY on food labels - what does this mean?

Which year did Food labelling of nutritional information become MANDATORY (Law)?

There are several laws and regulations that have to be followed when food manufacturers produce food labels. Can you remember the name of any of the two agencies that are responsible for overseeing and enforcing food labelling in relation to food safety?

The UK Government says that food labels should be:

• Easy to read

• Permanent

• Easily visible - the font must not be too small

• Not misleading - the product inside must like it does on the picture on the front of packaging

This is given to help the consumer identify what the food product is?

• Weight or volume

• Storage instruction

• The name of the food product

• Cooking instructions

How does the list of ingredients on food labelling have to appear?

• as a %

• The smallest amount of an ingredient first and the largest last

• The largest amount of an ingredient first and the smallest amount last

• The list of ingredients does not have to appear on food labels by law

The definition of the best before date that has to appear on food labels by law is?

• This is a date relating to high risk/perishable foods which are high in moisture and protein. These types of foods should be eaten by this date, if consumed after this date the food may not look different but will be unsafe to eat and could cause food poisoning, foods such as meat, fish, cheese, eggs etc

• After this date, a non high risk food will still be safe to eat, but may not be at its best quality, these are dry foods such as biscuits, pasta, cereals. They may go stale and the appearance, texture and taste maybe affected if consumed after the best before date

By law food labels must show if the food contains a known allergen (an ingredient that may give some people an allergic reaction) How must this appear on a food label

• Small font

• Italic font

• Bold font

• Underlined font

Which of the following pieces of information must appear on food labelling by law?

• Nutritional information

• The weight or volume of a product

• Storage and cooking instructions

• Contact details of the food products manufacturer, distributor or retailer