What needs to be on a label?

There is no denying that labels are an important element of any product on the market. It is where you can inform the consumers about your product, your company, and your vision. With the right branding elements, a label can showcase what’s unique about each item and what sets it apart from the rest.

However, you need to pay attention to the information that you include on your label. The legislation on product labelling states that all the information should be clear and not misleading, especially those that refer to these elements:

•           Price,
•           Quantity,
•           Size,
•           Materials,
•           Date and location of production,
•           Use, and
•           Endorsements.

In addition to this, the legal requirements also include some safety information for products that could potentially cause harm. Furthermore, there are some special regulations for specific products, such as food and drinks, precious metals, footwear, and items for children. Below, we will go through the legislation about food and drink labelling.

Required Labelling Information for Food and Drinks

• Name of the Food or Drink

The first essential information on your label should be the name of the food or drink. This should be its legal, customary, or descriptive name. From the three, the legal name proceeds, and if there is none, you should use one of the rest. Either way, the name shouldn’t be misleading.

• Ingredients and Quantitative Declaration of Ingredients

The list of ingredients is another piece of information that you must include on your labels. In more detail, this list is mandatory for any product that contains two or more ingredients, including additives and water. Moreover, you should also note the percentage that each ingredient is contained in the product, which constitutes the Quantitative Declaration of Ingredients.

• Allergen Information

If your product includes any allergens, you should make sure that you emphasize their presence. You can do this with a different font, letter size and colour, or by putting the word in bold letters. The list of allergens includes 14 different types, such as egg, mustard, peanuts, and celery among others.

• Net Quantity

Another important piece of information for your label is the product’s net quantity. This is essential if your product weighs more than 5g or 5ml.

• Storage Advice

Every product needs to include information on how to properly store it. Furthermore, you should also include “best before” or “use by” information.

• Manufacturer Information

Your product’s label should also state the name of its manufacturer or importer. This piece of information also includes the company’s full address.

• Country of Origin

Another piece of information that you need to clearly state is the country or area of origin. This can refer to the origin of primary ingredients and specific meats.

• Preparation Instructions

Other things that you should include on your labels are instructions on how to prepare and heat your product. For example, you should include the oven temperature and the minutes that it needs cooking.

• Nutrition Declaration

Lastly, nutrition labelling is another important element. In this, you must include energy and six nutrient levels per 100g/ml of your product.

The law regulates labelling to ensure that food and drinks in the market are not misleading consumers. Therefore, you need to check that you have included all of the required information that we have explained above.