© british nutrition foundation 2003 food labelling june 2003

© British Nutrition Foundation 2003

Food LabellingFood Labelling

June 2003


OutlineOutline

• What influences food labels

• Legislation

• Practical considerations

• The future


Influences on food labellingInfluences on food labelling

• Legislation (UK & EU)

• Enforcers• Consumers• Manufacturers &

retailers

• Voluntary recommendations & bodies

• Media• National

structures & guidance


LegislationLegislation

• Food Labelling Regulations 1996

• Other legislation– The Food Safety Act 1990 – Trade Description Act 1968– Weights & Measures Act 1985

• Specific legislation covering some foods– e.g. bread, jam, chocolate, milk


What What mustmust be on a label? be on a label?– name of food– list of ingredients (in descending order)– QUID information (if needed)– net quantity of food present (unless under 5g)– date mark (use by and best before)– any special conditions or conditions of use– name & address of manufacturer, packager or

seller– place of origin (if leaving out would mislead)– any necessary instructions for use


What is QUID?What is QUID?

– If an ingredient in the description of the product or is featured in a pack shot then the quantity of the ingredient must be declared as a percentage.

– This is required as part of EU labelling law, and known as Quantitative Ingredient Declaration (QUID).


List of Ingredients


Other informationOther information

– information on additives & other ingredients not legally required to be labelled

– nutrients present in food– nutrition &/or health claims– information on allergens present in food– processing or production methods (e.g.

organic)– logos & endorsements– guideline daily amounts


Labelling jargonLabelling jargon

• RDA - Recommended Daily Amount– part of EU directive on Nutrition

Labelling– estimates of the amount of vitamins &

minerals needed to meet or more than meet the needs of a group of adults

• GDAs - Guideline Daily Amounts


Nutrition LabellingNutrition Labelling

• not mandatory unless a nutrition claim is made

• must be in 1 of 2 formats• Group 1 declaration

– energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat

• Group 2 declaration– as above plus sugars, saturates, fibre

and sodium


Nutrition LabellingNutrition Labelling• In addition, these nutrients can be

included in a nutrient declaration on a voluntary basis: – starch– monounsaturates, polyunsaturates or

cholesterol– specified vitamins and nutrients present in

significant amounts

• If a claim is made about these nutrients they MUST be labelled


Nutrition LabellingNutrition Labelling

Prescribed format

Voluntary information

Derived from Estimated Average Requirements for energy


Nutrition ClaimsNutrition Claims

• Any representation, other than the nutrition labelling, that states or implies that a food contains, or has a high or low amount of one or more nutrients is a nutrition claim

• If a nutrition claim is made, nutrition labelling is mandatory



• Nutrient (or content) claims– refers to the level of a nutrient in a food

e.g. source of calcium

• Comparative claims– comparison of nutrient levels of 2 or

more foods, using descriptors such as ‘higher’ or ‘lower’, e.g. contains % more calcium



• Nutrient function claims– refers to physiological role of nutrient in

its relationship to growth, development or other normal functionse.g.aids in the development of strong bones & teeth

• Medical claims are illegale.g. prevents osteoporosis


Nutrition ClaimsNutrition ClaimsSource Claim Rich Source Claim Label

declarationsRDA Minimum amount

per daily serving(1/6 of the RDA)

Minimum amountper daily serving(50% of the RDA)

Minimum amountper 100g or100ml (15% ofthe RDA)

Vitamin A (μg) 800 133 400 120Vitamin D (μg) 5 0.83 2.5 0.75Vitamin E (mg) 10 1.7 5 1.5Vitamin C (mg) 60 10 30 9Thiamin (Vitamin B1)(mg)

1.4 0.23 0.7 0.21

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)(mg)

1.6 0.27 0.8 0.24

Niacin (mg) 18 3 9 2.7Vitamin B6 (mg) 2 0.3 1 0.3Folic acid (μg) 200 33.3 100 30Vitamin B12 (μg) 1 0.16 0.5 0.15Biotin (mg) 0.15 0.025 0.075 0.023Pantothenic acid (mg) 6 1 3 0.9Calcium (mg) 800 133 400 120Phosphorus (mg) 800 133 400 120Iron (mg) 14 3 7 2.1Magnesium (mg) 300 33.3 150 45Zinc (mg) 15 2.5 7.5 2.25Iodine (μg) 150 25 75 22.5


FSA Guidelines on Nutrient FSA Guidelines on Nutrient Content ClaimsContent Claims

LOW NO ADDED X FREEFAT Less than

3g/100g or 100mlLess than0.15g/100g or100ml

SATURATES Less than 1.5g/100g and shouldnot make upmore than 10%total energy ofthe product *

Less than 0.1g/100g or 100ml

SUGAR(S) Less than5g/100g or 100ml

No sugars orfoods composedmainly of sugarsadded to the foodor to any of itsingredients

Less than 0.2g/100g or 100ml

SALT/SODIUM

Less than40mgsodium per 100gor 100ml

No salt or sodiumshall have beenadded to the foodor to any of itsingredients

Less than 5mgsodium per 100gor 100ml

* excludes spreadable fats for which there are specific EU Regulations


FSA Guidelines on Nutrient FSA Guidelines on Nutrient Content ClaimsContent Claims

SOURCE INCREASED HIGHFIBRE Either 3g per

100g or 100ml orat least 3g in thereasonableexpected dailyintake of the food

More than 25%more than asimilar food forwhich no claim ismade and morethan 3 g in eitherthe reasonabledaily intake of afood for which thisis lower than 100gor 100ml or in100g or in 100ml

Either more than 6gper 100g or 100ml orat least 6g in thereasonable expecteddaily intake of thefoods


New EU Proposal on ClaimsNew EU Proposal on Claims

• Will define many nutrient claims– low fat– light/lite (reduced by 25%)

• Will prohibit some claims– ‘% fat free’ claims– use of the term ‘diet’


Practical ConsiderationsPractical Considerations

• Space - priority of information?What info do consumers want

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Practical ConsiderationsPractical Considerations

• Space– priority of information?

• Legibility• Font size & colour• Colour

– avoid red and green combinations


The FutureThe Future

• Legislation for health claims• Other ways to share detailed

information about the foods we buyExamples:– bar codes – internet

• Foods with no labels? What will happen?


Further InformationFurther Information

• British Nutrition Foundationwww.nutrition.org.uk

• Food Standards Agencywww.food.gov.uk

• Institute of Grocery Distributionwww.igd.com

• Sainsbury’s Taste of Successwww.j-sainsbury.co.uk/

tasteofsuccess

© british nutrition foundation 2003 food labelling june 2003

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