influences on food labelling

38. Influences on food labelling Legislation (UK & EU) Enforcers Consumers Manufacturers & retailers Voluntary recommendations & bodies Media National structures & guidance main piece of legislation in the UK is the FLR 1996 enforcers - LACORS (local co-ordinators of regulatory services) consumers important - information on allergens, suitability for special diets etc certain retailers may require certain information/format voluntary recommendations/bodies e.g. DH eat 5 a day label; National Osteoporosis Society; trade associations etc media e.g. FSA, Our food supply has become increasingly complex Certain consumers want certain sets of information main piece of legislation in the UK is the FLR 1996 enforcers - LACORS (local co-ordinators of regulatory services) consumers important - information on allergens, suitability for special diets etc certain retailers may require certain information/format voluntary recommendations/bodies e.g. DH eat 5 a day label; National Osteoporosis Society; trade associations etc media e.g. FSA, Our food supply has become increasingly complex Certain consumers want certain sets of information

39. Legislation Food Safety Act offence to sell food that is not of the ‘nature or substance or quality’ demanded by the purchaser Trade Description Act offence to make false or misleading statements about goods Weights & Measures Act 1985 makes short weight an offence other regulations also relevant e.g. 1987 regs on quantity marking & abbreviations of unit; 2001 regs on metricationFood Safety Act offence to sell food that is not of the ‘nature or substance or quality’ demanded by the purchaser Trade Description Act offence to make false or misleading statements about goods Weights & Measures Act 1985 makes short weight an offence other regulations also relevant e.g. 1987 regs on quantity marking & abbreviations of unit; 2001 regs on metrication

40. What must 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 Mandatory information ingredients - appear in descending order of weight as used during preparation of food (25% rule - removing for some foods) QUID - e.g. pork sausages or fruit pie for some foods there are standard amounts e.g. bread 400g or 800g. ‘e’ for nominal weight/volume (+ drained weight for solid food sold in liquid media) Best before date - date up to & including which the food will retain its optimum condition (e.g. it will not be sale) Use by date - for foods that are highly perishable e.g. dairy products. Date is up to & including if it has been stored correctly (e.g midnight) place of origin if leaving this out would mislead (e.g. French stick) And alcoholic strength by volume for beverages containing more than 1.2% by volume Optional information may incMandatory information ingredients - appear in descending order of weight as used during preparation of food (25% rule - removing for some foods) QUID - e.g. pork sausages or fruit pie for some foods there are standard amounts e.g. bread 400g or 800g. ‘e’ for nominal weight/volume (+ drained weight for solid food sold in liquid media) Best before date - date up to & including which the food will retain its optimum condition (e.g. it will not be sale) Use by date - for foods that are highly perishable e.g. dairy products. Date is up to & including if it has been stored correctly (e.g midnight) place of origin if leaving this out would mislead (e.g. French stick) And alcoholic strength by volume for beverages containing more than 1.2% by volume Optional information may inc

41. Other 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 Optional information may include.. Processing aids & any solvent/carrier used only for technical reasons GM - Only approved GM foods may be sold and if a food contains any GM ingredients, this must be shown on the label labelling regulations require any food containing novel GM material (the DNA that has been altered or the proteins that the DNA produces) to be labelled highly processed food ingredients (such as refined vegetable oils) that are produced from a genetically modified source but that no longer contain any GM DNA or protein, currently do not have to be labelled because they are indistinguishable from those produced from non- GM sources. small amounts (below 1%) of GM material that are accidentally present in non GM ingredients do not have to be labelled Optional information may include.. Processing aids & any solvent/carrier used only for technical reasons GM - Only approved GM foods may be sold and if a food contains any GM ingredients, this must be shown on the label labelling regulations require any food containing novel GM material (the DNA that has been altered or the proteins that the DNA produces) to be labelled highly processed food ingredients (such as refined vegetable oils) that are produced from a genetically modified source but that no longer contain any GM DNA or protein, currently do not have to be labelled because they are indistinguishable from those produced from non- GM sources. small amounts (below 1%) of GM material that are accidentally present in non GM ingredients do not have to be labelled

42. Labelling 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 RDA only 1 figure for each nutrient, derived from figures for adults no variation with age, sex etc like UK reference nutrient intakes GDA developed by Institute of Grocery Distribution derived from estimated average energy requirements foe energy for men and women 19-50 of normal weight and fitness as on nutrition label plus GDA for salt - 5g for women and 7g for men based on the COMA recommendations (1994) of 6g salt per dayRDA only 1 figure for each nutrient, derived from figures for adults no variation with age, sex etc like UK reference nutrient intakes GDA developed by Institute of Grocery Distribution derived from estimated average energy requirements foe energy for men and women 19-50 of normal weight and fitness as on nutrition label plus GDA for salt - 5g for women and 7g for men based on the COMA recommendations (1994) of 6g salt per day

43. Nutrition Labelling not mandatory unless a nutrition claim is made must be in 1 of 2 formats Group 1 declaration energy, protein, carbohydrate & fat Group 2 declaration as above plus sugars, saturates, fibre and sodium EU Council Directive on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs (90/496/EEC) Group 1 also known as Big 4 Group 2 also known as Big 8 EU Council Directive on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs (90/496/EEC) Group 1 also known as Big 4 Group 2 also known as Big 8

44. Nutrition 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 saturates must also be declared if other fats are labelled 15% of the RDA Other nutrients can only be declared if a claim has been made about it & if it is a component of a nutrient defined in the regulations e.g. fructose saturates must also be declared if other fats are labelled 15% of the RDA Other nutrients can only be declared if a claim has been made about it & if it is a component of a nutrient defined in the regulations e.g. fructose