What’s in the Food Label

Food label is an important communication tool that provides consumers with information about a product's composition, nutritional profile, and quantity of contents so that they can make product comparisons and selections. Today consumers use food labels to find information such as the ingredient list, expiry date, nutrition, country of origin, serving size and statements about health benefits to help them make their purchasing decisions. Moreover food labelling involves the twin elements of economics and safety. Food standards at present exist almost solely for economic reason, which is to define food in a way that meets the economic expectations of producers and consumers. Likewise, net contents and the name and address of the manufacturer are on the label for economic reasons. The rationale for a statement of ingredients on the label is partly economic, so that the consumer will understand what he is buying, and partly safety, in the event the consumer has a known allergic reaction to an ingredient in that food product. Nutritional information is on the label for economic reasons as to show the value of the food and for health reasons.

Food and Drug Administration Jammu and Kashmir is responsible for ensuring that the food sold in the market is safe, wholesome and properly labelled. This applies to food produced domestically as well as food from foreign countries. The Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 and Food Safety & Standards (Packaging and Labelling) regulations 2011 administer food products under the ambit of Food & Drug Administration headed by Commissioner FDA. Implementation of the Act is practised by 108 Food Safety Officers at the ground level.

Food Safety Officers have important role in promoting awareness among manufacturers, distributors and importers about the proper labelling of the products. This guidance is a summary of the required statements that must appear on food labels under these laws and their regulations. To help minimize legal action and delays, it is recommended that manufacturers and importers become fully educated about the applicable laws and regulations before manufacturing starts or before offering foods for distribution/sale in Jammu & Kashmir State. Food labelling is imperative to food items available on shelves for sale in the market.

Food Safety & Standards (Packaging & Labelling) regulation 2011, provides guidelines for labelling of Food Products. There are three definitions which are important while labelling & Packing of Food Products:

BEST BEFORE DATE: means date which signifies the period during which the food shall remain fully marketable and shall retain any specific qualities for which tacit or express claims have been made.

DATE OF MANUFACTURE: means the date on which the food becomes the product as described.

DATE OF PACKING: means date on which the food is placed in the immediate container in which it is ultimately sold.

The label of the food product is mandated to include following information as provided under Food Safety & Standards Act 2006, regulation 2011, (failing which may incur fine of up to Rs three lakhs).

Name of the Food: Name of the food/product is one of the first FSSAI Guidelines on Labelling the Food Products. As the name suggests, the name of the food product should be in clear format on the packaged product in clear font. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued new regulations controlling advertising and label claims for food products, restricting the use of words and phrases such as natural, fresh, original, traditional, authentic, genuine and real. Where the meaning of a trade mark, brand name or fancy name containing adjectives such as “natural”, “fresh”, “pure”, “original”, “traditional”, “authentic”, “genuine”, “real”, etc., appearing in the labeling, presentation or advertising of a food is such that it is likely to mislead consumer as to the nature of the food, in such cases a disclaimer in not less than 3mm size shall be given at appropriate place on the label stating that – “This is only a brand name or trade mark and does not represent its true nature”.

List of Ingredients: List of Ingredients means the elements which have been utilized for making the final food product. The name of the ingredients used in the food product shall be listed in descending order of their composition by weight or volume. It is very necessary that the manufacturer mentions all the ingredients fairly and do not cheat the end-consumer. The manufacturer can land in problem if tends to cheat the consumer.

Nutritional Information: Nutritional Information means the calories derived from fats, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sugars, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron present in the product. The calories are mentioned on all the products labels. However the nutritional information may not be necessary in case of foods such as raw agricultural commodities.

Declaration regarding Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian: While labelling the food products, the manufacturer should mention on the label whether the product is vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Whether the product is vegetarian or non-vegetarian can easily be known by just looking at the small sign present on the corner of the label. Green Colour indicates the product being vegetarian and Brown Colour indicates that the product is non-vegetarian. Where any article of food contains eggs only as Non-Vegetarian ingredient, manufacturer or packer or seller may give declaration to this effect in addition to the said symbol

Declaration regarding Food Additives: Food additives are substances which are added to food in order to preserve flavour or enhance its taste and appearance. Hence, it is very necessary to give a declaration regarding the additives on the label or the package. Where any colouring matter or preservative is added to food product it shall mention on the label that the product contains added “permitted natural colors” or Product “contains permitted synthetic food colours”. Similarly, if preservatives are added the label shall mention the product contains “Added Preservatives”

Name and Address of the Manufacturer: The name of the manufacturer and place of the manufacturing is usually mentioned on label. The manufacturer has to give complete address of his factory which includes street address, city, state and zip code. Without mentioning any of these, products can be considered fake in the market.

Net Quantity: Net Quantity is also FSSAI Guidelines on Labeling of Food Products. Net Quantity here refers to the weight of the product. The weight of the product and the packaging weight are usually combined together and then mentioned in the Net Quantity.

/Lot No/Batch No: A batch number or code number or lot number is a mark of recognition through which the food can be found in the manufacturing chain and even recognized in the distribution. Therefore, the Code No /Lot No /Batch No should be definitely mentioned by the manufacturer according to FSSAI Guidelines on Labeling of Food Products.

Country of Origin for Imported Food: The country of origin of goods means the nationality of imported goods and even refers to the area where such goods have been grown or have been produced, manufactured or processed. All the imported food items are needed to carry the address of importer

FSSAI Logo & License No: It is mandatory that Food Products carry on its label FSSAI Logo and License No in contrast colour to the background.