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Name, ingedients and storage instructions

 
Labels must correctly describe the product, its ingredients and how it should be stored.

The name of the food

This must take one of three forms:

  • name of a product required by law, eg. milk chocolate
  • the customary name of a product, eg. doughnut
  • name or short description that suitably describes the product and ensures that consumers do not to confuse it with other similar products.
Certain 'common' names for foods cannot be used if the percentage composition of the product does not meet the requirements. For example, a burger cannot be labelled 'Beef Burger' if the beef content is less than 65% lean beef.

The name has to describe what type of food it is, and what processes it has undergone, if any, eg. smoked salmon.

List of ingredients

If the product contains more than two individual ingredients, a full list of all the ingredients must be given. These must be given in descending weight order as at the time of preparation.

Most 'additives' must be stated in order of function and serial or specific name e.g. preservative: E220 or preservative sulphur dioxide.

Flavouring may simply be labelled as 'flavours' omitting specific names. Modified starch may simply be referred to as 'Modified Starch'.

Storage instructions

On most pre-packed, perishable goods, there will be a set of storage instructions which will guide the consumer on how to keep the product as fresh as possible and for as long as possible. These can be important for maintaining food safety eg. 'refrigerate after opening'.

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