What are the labels of food for?
It is usual that when we go to the supermarket, we go with our shopping list, and we also do it with a shot, especially when we already have in our mind what products or food to buy precisely because we have already tried and liked them.
This means that, as a general rule, very few people pay attention to the food labels, which become an invaluable element by providing us with very useful information about the food product we are going to buy, and therefore subsequently to consume.
What are the labels of food for?
Food labels provide consumers with extremely useful information to know the main characteristics of the products you are going to consume, and also gives us a rough idea about the quality of the food in question.
It is a commitment of the manufacturer to the consumer, by means of which it informs us that a certain article or product meets the conditions and characteristics required by the regulations.
For this, the labeling of the product or food must be clear, concise and must not mislead the consumer at all. In addition, as has been recently regulated, they should not indicate properties and benefits if they have not been verified and scientifically proven, and therefore endorsed by the European Commission.
What information do we find on the label of a food?
We must differentiate between the label that can be found in a packaged food and one not packaged:
Information found on the label of a packaged food
- Name of the product: as it is denominated to the product in Spain.
- List of ingredients: in descending order of their weight at the time they are incorporated during the manufacturing process. It is not necessary when we are faced with a single ingredient.
- Lot to which the product belongs.
- Packing date.
- Expiration or preferential consumption.
- Quality: when required by the specific regulations of the aforementioned product. For example, in the case of fruits or vegetables you must indicate their origin, variety, commercial category and size.
- Special storage conditions: when the product requires special preservation when it is in the home (for example, keep in a cool and dry place or keep at -15ºC ...).
- Weight: net quantity, expressed in volume for liquids and in weight for solid foods.
- Identification of the company: name of the company, company name or name of the manufacturer, seller or packer.
- Nutrition label: useful to know what nutrients - and in what quantity - contains the product.
Information found on the label of an unpackaged food
- Denomination.
- Physical condition, quality category and variety.
- Origin.
- In your case, list of ingredients.
- Net amount.
- Expiration date (or minimum duration).
- Identification of the company.
- Special storage conditions.
Image | Beige Alert This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist.
