Food labeling is an important requirement for packaged foods
Food labeling serves two purposes, the first is to comply with legal requirements as required by the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, which governs all rules and regulations related to food. The second purpose is to inform the customer about the content of the packaged food, the date of manufacture and the shelf life of the product.
Food labeling is the printed information that contains the name of the product, the name of the manufacturing company, address, logo, etc. It also contains a list of ingredients, additives, colorants, preservatives, flavors, etc. used in the product. The label also has the FSSAI logo, lot number, Mfg code number. & Exp. Date, license number, logo, vegetable and non-vegetable marks, etc. Important nutritional information should also be posted so that consumers can make an informed decision about the value of the product to them.
An important aspect of food labeling for consumers is nutritional information. Nutrition information informs consumers about the amount of protein, carbohydrates, sugar, fat, vitamins, minerals, and calories it contains. The nutritional content can be displayed as a grid or as a panel and is placed on the side of the packaged food container or on the back of the package. The nutritional value displayed can help consumers decide which foods will serve their nutritional and health needs.
Food labeling has to follow certain rules and regulations and cannot be random. Attention should be paid to the font size of the product name, the date of manufacture and the ‘batch or batch number’. The ‘best before’ and ‘use by date’ must be posted in accordance with the FSS Act of 2006. Food labeling also provides consumers with instructions on how to use the product. Certain food products such as wheat, rice, pickles, etc. and single-ingredient foods do not need to list any nutritional value.
Some foods require specific labeling requirements, such as infant milk substitutes and baby foods. Food products such as edible oils and fats also require specific labeling requirements. All containers of infant milk substitutes or infant food must have this statement “IMPORTANT NOTICE: BREASTMILK IS BEST FOR YOUR BABY” in addition to other requirements, this label must also be placed on the label, “Warning: “Breastmilk substitute infant milk or infant food is not a baby’s only source of nutrition” must also be mentioned on the label.
While all of the above are important to list on food labels, there is also some information that cannot be listed on labels. Any statement or label design that misinforms or misleads a consumer about nutritional value or quantity is prohibited by law. False food labeling can endanger the health of the consumer if it is not labeled correctly, such as with baby food products or products used for special dietary needs or for allergy sufferers. Food labeling standards are detailed in the FSSAI (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011.