Food Labelling and Legislation

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO FOOD LABELLING

Food labelling refers to the process of identifying and presenting information about food and its contents on its packaging.
Labelling provides consumers with the knowledge needed to make informed food choices.
Information presented on food labels typically includes ingredients, nutritional information, allergens, and origin of the product.

SECTION 2: IMPORTANCE OF FOOD LABELLING

Food labelling plays a key role in ensuring food safety by informing consumers about potential allergens or specific dietary content.
It aids in making dietary choices by providing information on nutrients and energy content.
It also provides traceability in the food supply chain, tracking food from farm to fork.

SECTION 3: FOOD LABELLING LEGISLATION

Food labelling legislation regulates how food information should be presented to consumers to ensure consistency, truthfulness, and clarity.
In the UK, the Food Information Regulations 2014 sets out the requirements for food labelling.
EU law (Regulation EU 1169/2011) sets out comprehensive food labelling requirements for member states.

SECTION 4: ELEMENTS OF FOOD LABELLING LEGISLATION

Food labelling legislation involves mandatory and voluntary elements.
Mandatory information includes name of the food, list of ingredients, allergen information, quantity of certain ingredients, net quantity, use-by or best-before date, storage instructions, name and address of the food business operator, country of origin, instructions for use, and nutritional information.
Voluntary elements can include environmental information, ethical claims, and health and nutrition claims.

SECTION 5: FOOD LABELLING CHALLENGES AND CONTROVERSIES

To be effective, food labelling must be accurate, truthful, and easy for consumers to understand.
However, there are challenges, such as the use of complex language, small print, and misleading claims.
Controversies can arise over labelling of certain types of foods, such as GM foods, organic foods, and foods with health and nutrition claims.
Label design and format, such as traffic light systems and nutritional scorecards, are an area of ongoing debate.

SECTION 6: FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN FOOD LABELLING

Advances in technology are allowing for more dynamic and interactive food labelling, such as through QR codes and augmented reality.
There is growing interest in more comprehensive labelling covering areas such as environmental footprint, animal welfare, and social justice issues.
Label transparency and consumer trust are increasingly important in the evolving food marketplace.