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FOOD LABELLING Food labels provide information from the manufacturer to the consumer. They are useful to the consumer because they: - provide information about the product so that the consumer knows exactly what they are buying; - provide instructions for storage and preparation so the consumer is able to store and prepare the product safely; - enable the consumer to make choices for dietary or other reasons; - allow consumers to compare food products for value for money. Labelling Requirements Most food products must by law include the following information, though some products may be exempt from one or more of these conditions. - the product name - an ingredients list (in descending order of weight) - the shelf-life (use-by or best-before date) - storage instructions - the name and address of either the manufacturer, packer or EC seller - the country of origin - the weight - instructions for use Date Coding Food labels can carry date codes to ensure that the safety and quality of the food is maintained and to prevent food poisoning. Date codes refer to the product before it is opened. Use By . . . The »use-by« code must be used for foods that are microbiologically highly perishable, foods which deteriorate and become a danger to human health after a short time. This type of code is often used for chilled foods such as sandwiches and cookchill meals which should be stored in the refrigerator. Best Before . . . This type of code is used for products where a »use-by« date is not applicable or required. The »best-before« date must be expressed as a day and month and year, in that order. For products with a shelf-life of three months or less, for example bread, crisps, biscuits and sweets, the »best-before« date may be expressed as a day and month only. Best Before End … This is an alternative form of the »best-before« date for products with a shelf-life of more than three months, for example canned and bottled goods, drinks and frozen foods. It may be expressed in terms of a month and year only, or if the product has a shelf-life of more than 18 months, in terms of a month and year or a year only. Display Until … This is not required by law but may be used by stores to ensure the staff knows when to remove products from the shelves. It is usually a few days before the »use-by« date so that the consumer has a number of days left in which to use the food. Foods without Date Codes Some products are not required to be date-marked, for example, wines and spirits which have a long shelf-life and fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods which are not prepacked such as delicatessen products do not require a date mark. Nutritional Labelling Food manufacturers are not required by law to provide nutritional labelling. However, it they make a claim such as »low sugar« or »high fibre«, they must support it with nutritional labelling. Many manufacturers do show nutritional labelling which allows consumers to make healthier choices. Two systems of nutritional labelling have been agreed by the European Community. The first includes details about energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat and the second supplies details about those as well as sugars, saturates, fibre and sodium. Information is given per 100g or 100mls. Vir: http://images.google.si/imgres?imgurl=http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~media/display.gif&i mgrefurl=http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~media/fooddates.htm&h=98&w=153&sz=7&hl=sl &start=20&tbnid=dYKDfpm_7hCAUM:&tbnh=61&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlab elling,%2Bdisplay%2Buntil%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dslir: EXERCISES II. Some products must carry additional information. Match: 1. use by 2. best before 3. best before end 4. display until 5. without date codes 6. nutritional labelling ___ alternative for »best before« for products shelf life of more than 3 months ___ is used to inform the shop personnel when to remove products from shelves ___ for highly perishable foods which can become dangerous to health ___ for products with long shelf life and fresh fruits and vegetables ___ for food where special claims like »low calories« are made ___ for foods where »use by« date is not required. III. Answer the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Which information do labels provide for the consumer? What do they enable the consumer? Enumerate the information that food labels should include. Why is date coding necessary? What kinds of date coding do you know? Which products do not have date codes and why? When is nutritional labelling necessary?