Loose food labelling

Separate rules apply to foods sold loose (not pre-packed) and to very small packs.

There are currently some forty separate regulations covering labelling so the rules are complex.

Food Solutions is most concerned at proposals to make nutition labelling mandatory for non-pre-packed foods.

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Dates on labels

It is a legal requirement that all pre-packed foods are labelled with a durability date.

There are three dates you might see.

use by
best before
sell by/display until

Which date is critical to food safety? Is it legal to sell food after the sell by date?

Is food safe to eat after a best before date?

Food Solutions answers these questions in our Quick Reference Handbook and in more detail in Understanding Food Hygiene and Safety Regulations Handbook.

Egg stamps and labels

What are the rules on selling eggs? Sell by and use by dates for eggs are explained by Food Solutions.

Egg marking codes denoting production method and origin are discussed in depth in the handbook or ehandbook.

There are currently 87 pieces of EU and UK legislation egg producers should be aware of.

New labelling proposal

With the latest change of European Parliament, legislation on food labelling has yet again come under the spotlight.

The new draft has some 575 amendments tabled on it. Concerns for us are the pre-occupation with mandatory nutrition labelling of loose foods and the insistance of nutrition labelling on all pre-packed foods.

Proposals for full colour labelling would be prohibitively expensive for small businesses. Restaurants, bakers and pubs would be stifled with paperwork and food testing. Variable portion sizes and use of seasonal, local ingredients on an ad hoc basis would be things of the past. Do we really want standardized food in our restaurants, pubs and bakeries? Variety and speciality is surely why we value our small local businesses.

We have drafted a response based on your views in our questionnaire, which will go to Brussels through UEAPME.

COOL labelling

In June, MEPs voted to extend Country of Origin Labelling to other single ingredient products (beef must be labelled with country of origin already) including meat, poultry and dairy products.

Currently, there is a "last sustantial change clause" which allows a product which is cured or processed in country x to be labelled as "produced in country x".

Food Solutions has access to the Commission through its links with UEAPME. Your views count, let us speak for you where and when it counts.

Mandatory and voluntary food labelling

Certain information must by law be included on food labels. This is mandatory labelling information. It includes:

name of product
net quantity
date of minimum durability
allergen information

The ehandbook chapter on labelling details the full list of mandatory labelling information.

Allergen labelling is important, deaths from allergic reactions do occur. You have a legal duty to your customers.

Voluntary label information - extra information for consumers, mainly for marketing purposes:

special offers
brand information
environmental impact (dolphin friendly)

Food Solutions explains in simple language what the law says you must do to comply.

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Claims on labels

What is a health or nutrition claim?

How do I know my labels are right?

A list of generic terms that can be used on food labels will be completed in the next few years.

Health claims indicating a food has health benefits must be backed up by scientific evidence. There is currently a large backlog of claims evidence being evaluated.

Meanwhile, there are recognised claims and conditions applying to them such as:

low fat
high fibre
sugar free

If any claim is made there must also be a panel showing the nutrients and their quantities.

Our Understanding Food Hygiene and Safety Handbook quotes the full list of permitted claims and their conditions, subscribers can see it onthe labelling page in the ehandbook. The full text of the Regulation EC 1924/2006 is under EC Regs text.

Allergen labelling is outlined on the allergen page and in detail in the Handbook.

Food Solutions offers subscribers advice on getting your label approved by the appropriate authorities.

You know the rules with Food Solutions.