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What are labels?
They are a source of information that protects consumers, provides information and helps in making healthy food choices.
What is the basic information that should appear on food labels?
The product name
Clearly legible
Description of the product if it is not apart of the name
A picture of the product
Should not be misleading
The instructions for use and preparation
E.g. Cooking method
List of ingredients
Colouring agents listed according to their E-numbers
The name of the additive must be listed if allergic reactions can take place
MSG and flavour enhancers must be mentioned
Common allergies must also be listed
Storage instructions
To ensure that the product’s quality remains before and after it has been opened
Net/actual mass
Nutritional information
Appropriate units (i.e. kJ)
Single portion size
Logo
From an organisation that endorses the food product (i.e. Heart Foundation or SABS)
Mandatory warning if the product is pressurised
Name and address of the manufacturer
Date stamps
Day-Month-Year format
Packaging/manufacturing date
Best before date
Sell by date
Use by date
Country of origin
Batch identification number
Client service and customer care line
Bar code/price
Nutritional claims
What are the regulations for food labels?
Only facts must be provided
Words or implications that confuse the consumer may not be used
Must provide the consumer with knowledge
What are the misleading claims about nutritional content?
Reference to the Department of Health or the Government
Claiming to have complete or balanced nutrition (implying that the food will give complete nutrition
Any words, pictures or logos that creates the importance that it is supported by health practitioners etc.
The words ‘health’, ‘healthy’, ‘wholesome’, ‘nutritious’ or any other words that imply that the food has properties that will ensure health
The word ‘cure’ or any other medical claims, including preventative and therapeutic claims
The word ‘wild’ for fish and other marine food products unless it is qualified as ‘wild caught’
Prohibited nutritional content wording such as: ‘excellent source of…’; ‘enriched with’; ‘added…’
That nutritional value has been added to a food product when those ingredients have only been added for technical or sensory reasons
Any claim that it contains something that is not in the packaging
‘No added sugar’/’No sugar added’ on food items containing one or a combination of the following: Corn syrup; deflavoured concentrates and fruit juices; dextrose; fructose; glucose; maltose; sucrose or any other syrup
Any word, statement, logo or image that does comply with legal regulations
Frozen foods that have been thawed and marketed as ‘fresh’ where the words ‘previously frozen’ must appear on the label
Any claim that only the food product contains or does not contain a certain property or ingredient when there are similar food products that have the same property
Any comparative claim regarding total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar, sodium, salt, energy value or alcohol level or two or more similar food products