Food Labelling Guide For Food Brands

What Every Food Brand Needs to Know About Food Labelling

Your first promise is packaging, in which you sell food. When your labels are misleading or omit needed facts, you may face fines, recalls, and lost confidence. It is thus important to know food labeling.

In this guide, I will describe important rules, nutrition facts labels, allergen warning labels, and tips about food brands. Having read this, you will have all the information on what to add to the pack and what to proofread before printing.

Let’s start.

Why Food Labelling Matters for Your Brand

Labels protect consumers. They also protect your brand. Labeled packaging of food instills confidence and reduces returns. To regulators, labels are considered legal documents. In other words, it is not the advice to sell, but to notify people of what is in it, by wording, font size, etc.

Hence, you are required to provide the product identity, net quantity, the list of ingredients, nutrition facts label, information about the manufacturer, as well as the allergens. A list of ingredients and a net weight label is also mandatory on most of the products.

It is also necessary when selling cereal or packaged snacks that will have a label on the nutrition of the cereal box indicating the correct amount of calories and nutrients in each portion. These are the minimum components of the conforming food packaging labels.

What is Always Required on a Nutrition Label

Nutrient content and energy (calories) should be denoted on the label of nutrition facts. At least you will have to list: total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, and a list of a specified list of vitamins and minerals.

New official recommendations also clarify what vitamins and minerals should appear on the panel and how percent Daily Values should be presented on the panel. In selling cereal, it is important to ensure that the nutritional facts label on your custom cereal box is corrected with the serving size and the nutrient breakdown that you are asserting on the regulatory submissions as well as on your product sheets.

• Nutrition Facts Label
• Ingredients List
• Allergen Declaration
• Expiry Date / Best Before Date
• Storage & Handling Instructions
• Net Quantity / Weight Label
• Manufacturer & Contact Information

Allergen Rules to Remember

Allergens must be notified. The allergens of major concern must be mentioned in the ingredients list or on an allergen warning label. Common regulated allergens include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame, and so forth. Even the food labeling laws usually drive you to highlight those ingredients to ensure that a customer can read them at a glance by reading the pack. When using small things or snacks that have more than one ingredient, be specific.

Regulators set the facts. They also set rules of formatting. Expect laws on font size, location on the main display screen, and data sequence. There will also be a rule of legibility and language. Where the pack is to be designed in colour, a high contrast of the label should be maintained. Do not place the net weight or nutrition facts in small type or in a sidebar where large type is obligatory.

Compliance Checklist to Follow:

• Confirm product identity and net quantity are visible on the front.
• Include a full ingredients list with allergens highlighted.
• Add a complete nutrition facts label with mandatory nutrients.
• Verify that the serving size is realistic and matches the packaging weight.
• Ensure the manufacturer's name and address are present.
• Proof your print-ready art at actual size and lighting.

Label Claims, Health Claims, and “Healthy” Wording

Claims such as “low fat”, “high in fiber”, or “healthy” carry strict definitions. Using these words without meeting the nutrient criteria can trigger enforcement or forced removal. Regulators have tightened the rules around nutrient-content claims to avoid misleading consumers. If you plan to use a “healthy” claim, check the current numeric thresholds and supporting requirements before committing to any claim on artwork.

Packaging that Helps Sales and Stays Compliant

Good labels sell. Write clean and benefit-oriented words without distorting facts needed. As an illustration, the product story and brand promise can be put on the back or sides. The store must have essential panels cleaned. A brief callout on the front of the pack that reflects your nutrition facts (such as High in fibre 6 g per serving) is also helpful to the shopper, but should be equivalent to your table on nutrition facts.

What information must appear on a nutrition facts label?

The nutrition facts label must contain energy (calories) and a simple category of nutrients, which contains total fat, saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, total sugar, added sugar, protein, and a few vitamins/minerals. The law also normally requires the percent of Daily Value in most cases. It is always important to make sure that you review the particular nutrient list that is applicable to your market before making a conclusion on art.

How should allergens be shown on a pack?

The ingredients list should indicate the allergenic ingredients and highlight them to be notable to the consumers. An alternate label can also be provided to warn about the allergen, e.g., Contains: MILK, SOY. Use the common list of allergens practiced in your sales market.

Can I use a “healthy” claim on my cereal?

Yes, but only if the product meets strict nutrient criteria. Regulators now expect claims to reflect overall dietary patterns and nutrient thresholds. Confirm the latest guidance before using “healthy” on pack to avoid enforcement.

What common mistakes cause non-compliance?

The list of some of the most common errors includes the wrong serving size, missing ingredient, too small or illegible type, inconsistency between the nutrition label and the list of ingredients, and unapproved statements. A critical pre-print screening can help to avoid these problems.

Concluding

Food labelling is a legal requirement and an opportunity for a brand. Food packaging ensures that the consumers are safe and helps develop your brand. Look at the right labels of nutrition facts, serious allergen labels, and truthful words. Proof artwork at actual size. When in doubt, test and audit food labelling regulations before taking mass print.