Download Information on food labels

GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
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Endorsed by
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
Heading labelling
Nutrition
• Nutrition labelling is mandatory if a nutrition claim (for example, low fat) or health claim
(for example, with Omega 3) is made
• Sometimes manufacturers provide the nutrition information voluntarily even if the food
does not make a nutrition or health claim. It doesn’t apply to natural mineral water
Nutrition claim
Health claim
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
Heading labelling
Nutrition
• There are two main formats for providing nutritional information
Nutrition Information
Typical Composition. 100g (3oz) provide: Energy 536kJ/128kcal,
Protein 15.0g, Carbohydrate 3.5g (of which sugars 3.5g), Fat 6.0g
(of which saturates 3.8g, mono-unsaturates 1.4g,
polyunsaturates 0.1g), Fibre 0g, Sodium 0.3g.
Linear format
Line format
• Typical Value per 100g •
Energy364kj/87kcal
Protein1.0g
Carbohydrate16.5g
FatNil
Tabular format
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
Nutrient
Heading quantities on food labels
– high, medium or low
Check how much
fat, sugar and salt
is in your food
Food Shopping Card
Sugars
What is
Saturates
Salt
HIGH
Over
Over
15g
20g
5g
1.5g
What is
Between
Between
Between
Between
and
and
and
per 100g
Remember that the
amount you eat of a
particular food affects
how much sugars, fat,
saturates and salt you
will get from it.
Fat
MEDIUM
per 100g
What is
LOW
per 100g
Over
5g
15g
5g
and below
3g
20g
1.5g
5g
Over
0.3g
and
1.5g
3g
1.5g
0.3g
and below
and below
and below
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
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Claims
on labels
There are two types of claims on labels
1. A nutrition claim
2. A health claim
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
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1.
Nutrition claims
A nutrition claim is any claim that states, suggests or implies that the food has a
particular beneficial nutritional property due to the following;
The energy (calorific value)
• it provides
• it provides at a reduced or increased rate, or
• it does not provide
The nutrients or other substances
• it contains, for example high fibre
• it contains in reduced or increased proportions, for example low fat, or
• it does not contain, for example trans fats.
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
Heading
2.
Health claims
A health claim is any claim that states, suggests or implies that a relationship exists between a food
category, a food or one of its constituents and health.
The nutrition and health claims are controlled in Northern Ireland by the Nutrition and Health Claims
Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
Heading foods
Fortified
Fortified food has micronutrients (essential trace minerals and vitamins) added to it.
Flour and margarine have to be fortified by law.
Although it doesn’t have to be stated on the label, flour in the UK must be fortified with the following:
• calcium carbonate
• iron
• thiamin (vitamin B1)
• nicotinic acid or nicotinamide
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
Heading terms
Marketing
ertain terms are used by manufacturers, producers and retailers to market their
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products, but it is important that these terms do not mislead consumers. These are
known as marketing terms.
Examples of marketing terms
• Fresh – Can be helpful to identify produce that is sold within a short time of
production or harvesting
• Pure – Mostly for foods containing single ingredients to which nothing has been added
• Natural – Only contains natural ingredients with no other added ingredients
Sugar
100% Natural
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
Headingdietary advice – allergens
Special
• Food allergy, food intolerance and coeliac disease can cause some people to become ill
• Food allergy symptoms can be immediate and even fatal
• It is important that food labels help people with a food allergy or intolerance make safe food choices
• There are 14 ingredients (including derivatives) that by law must be mentioned on the label in the
ingredients list, even if added at very low levels
Celery
Eggs
Fish
Cereals containing gluten* (wheat,
barley, rye, oats, spelt and kamut)
Molluscs (such as mussels
and oysters)
Sesame seeds
Crustaceans (such as
lobster and crab)
Nuts
Lupin
Milk
Mustard
Peanuts
Sulphur dioxides and sulphites
Soybeans
*Products containing gluten can be labelled ‘gluten free’ if the concentration of gluten is less than 20mg/kg or ‘very low gluten’ if concentration is less than
100mg/kg. This allows people with coeliac disease to make more informed choices.
Some manufacturers include an allergy advice box on the label which highlights allergens present in the food.
ALLERGY ADVICE
Packed in a factory handling nuts and
sesame seeds.
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GCSE Topic 2
Information on
food labels
Heading
Special
dietary advice – vegetarians and vegans
If a food is labelled vegetarian, it means that the food doesn’t contain any meat,
fish, or poultry etc. or additives from animal sources such as gelatine.
Products carrying the Vegetarian Society Approved logo must meet certain requirements
laid down by the Vegetarian Society.
If a food is labelled vegan, it means that the food does not contain any animal products,
including those from living animals – such as milk.
VEGETARIAN
Vegetarian logo
Vegan logo
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