What is a food label?

Food labels refer to all labels, tags, text, graphics, and symbols on or attached to food packaging containers. The basic functions of the label are: food name, ingredient list, net content and solid content, factory name, batch number, date mark, etc. It is a description of food quality characteristics, safety characteristics, and instructions for eating and drinking.

What is "General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods"

"General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" GB7718-2004 is one of a series of national standards for food labeling, applicable to all products provided to consumers. Prepackaged food labels. Prepackaged food refers to “food that has been pre-packaged in quantitative quantities, or put into, canned, or containers, and provided directly to consumers.” The new "General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" requires food processing companies to correctly label labels in accordance with standard requirements. The contents that must be marked on prepackaged food include: food name, ingredient list, net content and drained content, solid content, content, manufacturer's name and address, production date or packaging date and shelf life, and product standard number. If consumers find and confirm that the label's identification is inconsistent with the actual quality, they can file a complaint according to law and receive compensation.

Why should there be food labels on packaged foods for sale?

The main reasons: First, the needs of consumers. Consumers can use food labels to choose food. By observing the entire content of the label, you can understand the name of the food, what kind of food it contains, what raw materials and accessories it is made of, as well as the manufacturer and quality, etc. The second is the needs of producers and distributors. They use labels to expand publicity and let consumers know about companies and products; at the same time, different production companies use their own unique labels to protect their legitimate rights and interests to prevent other products from counterfeiting their own labels. The third is the need for export and technical exchanges in the international food industry. The fourth is the need to implement the Food Hygiene Law. Fifth, it is the need for national economic governance and rectification and the need to strengthen the construction of laws. In recent years, counterfeit and shoddy foods have continued to appear on the market. Some of them are labeled as high-quality products, some are inferior, some are less than good, and some are even adulterated and fake, which do not meet food hygiene requirements and endanger consumers' health. health, or even death or disability. One of the reasons is that the legal system is not perfect, management is not strict, and production, inspection and implementation supervision are not organized in accordance with product quality standards and food labeling standards. The implementation of the new "General Principles for Prepackaged Food Labeling" has fully integrated food labeling management in our country. standardized track.

What are the basic requirements for food labels?

The main ones are: 1. The label must be true. Production enterprises should label food names according to their basic attributes. 2. Labels must be scientific. The language, text, graphics, and symbols on food labels must be accurate and scientific. 3. Labels must be standardized. The Chinese characters on food labels must be qualified and standardized Chinese characters, and irregular simplified characters and eliminated variant characters must not be used.

How to use food labels to purchase food

First, distinguish the connotation and quality characteristics of the food from the food name indicated on the food label. The second is to identify the inherent quality and special effects of the food from the ingredient list or ingredient list. The third is to identify the quantity and value of food from the net content or solid content. The fourth is to identify the freshness of food from the production date and shelf life. Fifth, use other content of the label to guide purchases.

About the production date and shelf life marked on the label

The production date is the date on which the finished product produced by the manufacturer is inspected. The production date of prepackaged food can take into account the time required for inspection. You can only mark the production date on the outer packaging box (box) of frozen drinks (popsicles, ice cream, etc.).

About marking product standard numbers on labels

Domestic prepackaged food labels must indicate the code and sequence number of the implementation standard. Implementation standards refer to all-round product standards that reflect quality characteristics, namely: national standards, industry standards, local standards or enterprise standards. The product standard code and serial number marked on the label are also the basis for supervision and inspection.

Put an end to consumer deception

The new "General Principles for Prepackaged Food Labeling" has increased efforts in strengthening the authenticity of food labels and protecting consumers' right to know and their own interests. . First, companies are not allowed to use product names on labels to confuse the true attributes of food. Second, the height of the words and numbers that must be marked on the label shall not be less than 1.8 mm; the net content and the name of the food must be marked on the packaging or packaging container in the same display year; making it easier for consumers to identify and read. Third, the specific names of sweeteners, preservatives, and colorants added to the product must be labeled. Fourth, food for special dietary use (such as food for infants and young children, food for diabetics) must be labeled with nutritional ingredients, that is, nutrition labels. Fifth, the production date and shelf life on the label must not be additionally affixed, subsidized or tampered with. Sixth, no content that indicates feudal superstition, is pornographic, disparages other foods, or violates scientific nutritional knowledge.