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"Not the same thing a bit, " said the Hatter. "Why, you might as well say that 'I see what I eat' is the same thing as 'I eat what I see'. "
- From Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
Food labelling is important, providing valuble information to the consumer
In some countries surveys consistently show that well over half the shoppers read labels on food products. Glance into a market or food store and you might well find someone scanning an ingredient list.
People are reading those labels because they're looking for value for their money and because they believe that diet and health are linked. They want to know if the product contains some substance that they want to avoid or limit for health reasons.
Codex Alimentarius has recognized the importance of labelling and has developed not only standards for conventional labels but also model regulations to control outrageous or unsubstantiated claims made on labels, as well as special regulations on nutrition labels and health claims.
According to Codex, a food label has to contain the following:
• name of the food,
• list of ingredients (in descending order of quantity),
• net contents and drained weight,
• name and address of the manufacturer,
• country of origin,
• lot identification,
• date marking and storage instructions,
• instructions for use.
The rules provide for the use of class names such as vegetable or animal oils, fat, starch, cheese, sugar and spices. In addition, class titles for food additives must be used together with the specified name of the additive. The additive classes include: anticaking agents, preservatives, stabilizers, thickeners/gelling agents, flour treatment agents, sweeteners, acidity regulators, propellants, raising agents/baking powder and emulsifying salts.
The date that is required is the minimum durability (best if used before) date, which tells how long the manufacturer can guarantee the true quality of the product. In addition, on a food that has been treated with ionizing radiation, the label must indicate such treatment in close proximity to the common name of the food.
The model Codex nutrition label is in guideline form and thus is advisory in nature. The guideline suggests that the nutrition label be required when a nutrition claim or representation is made on the label; then the declaration of a standard list of nutrients must be made. The idea of the nutrition label is to require the manufacturer to back up a claim by providing more information on the nutrient value of the product.
A nutrition claim is "any representation which states, suggests or implies that a food has particular nutritional properties including but not limited to the energy value [calories] and to the content of protein, fat and carbohydrates, as well as the content of vitamins and minerals". The vitamin/mineral list should include those for which the country has established recommended daily allowances and should include only those substances that are present in significant quantities in the product.
The nutrition label on this page, for example, shows quantities of 9 percent or more of the recommended daily intake for nine vitamins and minerals. A total of 16 vitamins and minerals have been assigned recommended daily allowances by FAO/WHO. On the label used in the example, the seven of those that are not listed (vitamins A, D, E, C and B12 and the minerals phosphorus and iodine) are not in sufficient quantity to be listed. The guidelines on claims seek to preclude foods from being wrongly presented as superior from a nutritional or health standpoint. For example, claims that foods have medicinal properties are flatly prohibited.
Codex also has a general standard for labelling food additives. It covers additives used commercially as well as home cooking items such as the colours that are added to frosting.
Example of nutrition labelling according to Codex guidelines
*WHOLE WHEAT DINNER ROLL
*1 serving-1 roll = 35 g
NUTRITION INFORMATION
per 100 g
|
Energy |
257 Cal |
|
(1086 kJ) | |
|
Protein |
10 g |
|
Fat |
3 g |
|
Carbohydrate |
51 g |
PERCENTAGE OF RECOMMENDED DAILY INTAKE
|
Thiamin |
26% |
|
Riboflavin |
9% |
|
Niacin |
23% |
|
Vitamin B6 |
11% |
|
Folacin |
26% |
|
Calcium |
9% |
|
Magnesium |
34% |
|
Iron |
17% |
|
Zinc |
20% |
Example of a conventional food product label that meets the Codex general standard
PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL
|
MARMALADE 375 ml INGREDIENTS: Sugar, orange peel, water, orange juice concentrate, pectin (gelling agent), citric acid (acidity regulator) PRODUCT OF CANADA XYZ CANNING COMPANY Toronto, Ontario |
SIDE OR BACK PANEL
|
Best if used before 30/11/92 |
