Why do we have food labels?Food labels provide you with enough information to make an informed choice when you buy food. Labels list information including: Show
Who develops Australian food standards?Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) develops food standards for the Australian and New Zealand food industries. For more information on food labelling requirements in Australia, read Part 1.2 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (external site) (the Code). Food labelling requirementsThe following information outlines general food labelling requirements contained in the Code. Unless an exemption applies, the following information must be included on labels for food packages for retail sale or for catering purposes. Name or description of the food Food package labels must include a name or a description of the food. This name or description should be clear enough so you can tell it apart from other foods. If there is a prescribed name for the food in the Code this must be included on the label. If there is no prescribed name for a food, the label must include a name or description that clearly states the true nature of the food. In accordance with food laws, labels must tell the truth and manufacturers must not represent foods in a false, misleading or deceptive way. Name and business address for an Australia or New Zealand supplier The supplier’s name and their Australian or New Zealand business address is required on food package labels. The term 'supplier' includes the packer, manufacturer, vendor (the business selling the food) or importer (the business bringing the food into Australia). The business address must be a physical address and not a post office box. Mandatory warning and advisory statements and declarations To protect your health and safety the Code requires that certain information be provided about some foods. Prescribed warning and advisory statements are specified in Standard 1.2.3 – Mandatory Warning and Advisory Statements and Declarations and elsewhere in the new Code. Refer to the FSANZ fact sheets and user guide for more on warning and advisory declarations. Ingredient listing Unless specifically exempted, food package labels must list all:
Ingredients and compound ingredients must be listed in descending order of their ingoing weight at the time the food is manufactured. There are limited exceptions to this. The names of ingredients should be sufficiently detailed to describe the ingredient ensure they are not false, misleading or deceptive, or likely to mislead or deceive. For guidance on the labelling of ingredients see FSANZ’s user guide on ingredient labelling. Additional guidance on the use and labelling of food additives is included in FSANZ’s user guide on food additives. Date marking Packaged foods that have a shelf life of 2 years or less must be date marked with either a:
Lot identification A lot identification is used to identify:
This information is especially important if there is a food safety issue which leads to a food recall. A date mark and the supplier’s address details are generally enough to meet this requirement. Some food items are exempt from lot identification, including:
Directions for use or storage Food labels must include directions for use and storage if the possible threat to your health and safety is greater than if you didn’t have this information. Following these directions keeps the food safe until its use-by date. Examples of such directions are ‘refrigerate after opening’ or ‘store away from sunlight’. Nutrition information panel The nutrition information panel details the amount of nutrients in the food, including:
Information must be presented in a standard format which shows the average amount per serve and per 100 g (or 100 mL if liquid) of the food. Refer to FSANZ for additional information on Standard 1.2.8 and nutrition information requirements. Percentage labelling Certain packaged foods labels must show the percentages of the ‘characterising’ ingredients in the food product, if the key ingredient is mentioned in the food description. For example, if yoghurt is called ‘strawberry yoghurt’ then the amount of strawberries within the yoghurt must be listed as a percentage in the ingredient list. Refer to FSANZ for information on Standard 1.2.10 – Characterising Ingredients and Components of Food. Country of origin Food package labels must specify the country in which the food was made or produced or specify the product is made from local or imported ingredients. This provision does not apply to food produced in or imported into New Zealand. Legibility requirements Labels must be clear, in full view and in English. The type size of warning statements must be no less than 3 mm high or not less than 1.5 mm for small packages. FSANZ's user guide on legibility requirements for food labels contains more information. Other labelling requirements Visit the FSANZ website (external site) for information on the following additional labelling requirements:
Exemptions from labelling requirements The following foods for retail sale or for catering purposes do not generally require a food label:
Even when exempt from bearing a label, the Code requires that certain information about a food be available to you, either verbally or in writing, at the point of sale. Allergic reactions – mandatory warnings, advisory statements and declarationsSome food for sale can cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. It is for this reason that certain food must have mandatory warnings, advisory statements and/or declarations when:
DeclarationsIf a food product contains any of the following substances then a declaration must be made:
Warning statementsRoyal jelly can also cause an allergic reaction. Products containing royal jelly therefore must have the following written warning statement: “this product contains royal jelly which has been reported to cause severe allergic reactions and in rare cases, fatalities, especially in asthma and allergy suffers”. Advisory statementsFood or food products containing bee pollen or propolis can also cause allergic reactions and therefore must bear a statement to the effect that the food or food product contains bee pollen or propolis which can cause severe allergic reactions. Further informationVisit the FSANZ website (external site) to view:
Remember
Acknowledgements Food Unit, Public Health This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions. See also
What are the requirements for a label?All product labels must have the following four required statements:. an identity statement.. a net weight statement.. a list of ingredients.. company name and address.. What are the 6 things required on a food label?Food Product Labeling and Packaging 101. Statement of identity, or name of the food.. Net quantity of contents, or amount of product.. Nutrition Facts Label.. Ingredient Statement.. Allergen Declaration.. Name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.. What are the 4 main things to look for on a food label?We asked registered dieticians to share the top four things they look for on food labels to help you make healthier selections fast.. Added sugar. shakzu/Getty Images. Most dietitians agree that lots of added sugar is a big no-no. ... . Trans fats. vasata/Getty Images. ... . Saturated fat. Ekaterina79/Getty Images. ... . Sodium.. What a food label must include?Labels list information including:. a description of the food.. ingredients.. nutritional information.. best before or use-by dates.. storage and preparation directions.. warnings about ingredients known to cause allergic reactions.. |