NEW RULES EUROPEAN FOOD LABELLING




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NUTRITIONAL LABEL:

The nutritional label is the label shown on a food product, which makes explicit the energy value and the content of protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sodium, vitamins, and minerals.

Up to now, European nutrition labeling is optional, except for cases in which a nutrition to appear on the packaging or in the advertising of food: for example, if the advertising claims that the food has "low fat" , the nutrition label must be present and report the values.


Nutrition labels are of two types, which indicate:

  1. energy value and amounts of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates
  2. energy value and amounts of protein, fat, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, sodium.

The second type is required when given a nutrition related to saturated fatty acids, sugars, dietary fiber and sodium.

Other information that can be added (if subject to mandatory nutritional information) are the amount of starch, sugar alcohols, fatty acids, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, cholesterol, vitamins and minerals.

The energy value is expressed in kcal and kJ per 100 g or 100 ml, proteins, fats (excluding cholesterol), carbohydrates, fiber and sodium in grams per 100 grams or 100 ml cholesterol in milligrams per 100 grams or 100 ml. The amounts can then be also referred to the ration or portion.

Information on vitamins and minerals must also be expressed as a percentage of the recommended daily allowance (RDA).



In 2003, the European Commission began a review of the work of European legislation on nutrition labeling. Objective: introducing mandatory nutritional labeling on all products in order to promote understanding by consumers of the nutritional characteristics of foods, so you can make more informed choices, favoring a proper diet and balanced.

  
On November 22, 2011 was published in the Official European Union EU regulation that required under the nutritional information and the health impact of each food, with an indication of the presence of allergens and a minimum size of labels. The decree prohibits misleading information.


The new EU Regulation on nutritional information food labels make very important changes to the existing legislation of many EU countries.The Regulation will enter into force 20 days after publication.Member States will then have 3 to 5 years to adapt national legislation.


Here is a summary of the new regulation:

- Mandatory nutrition declaration shall contain the information on the energy content and the percentage of fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and salt, expressed per 100g or per 100ml and may also be expressed in portions;

- Specify the origin of fresh meat of pigs, sheep, goats and poultry; - Provide information about the presence of allergens with highlighting to be easily identified by consumers, also apply to unpackaged foods, such as those sold in restaurants or canteens;

- Include warnings about the presence of stimulants such as caffeine in drinks or food (excluding drinks based on tea or coffee)

- More readable labels with minimum size of typefaces minimum not less than 1.2 mm (taking as reference the "x" lower-case), or 0.9 mm if the packs have a surface of less than 80 cm2, in the event of a package with a surface area less than 10 cm2, the label will list only the most important information;

- Expiry date, also individually packaged products;

- Prohibition to misleading claims on packaging: appearance, description and presentation graphics will be more understandable to not confuse the consumer;

- With regard to the imitation of food: food similar to others, but products with different ingredients, should be easily identifiable. The meat obtained from the combination of multiple pieces of meat to be designated as "flesh reassembled", the same will be true for the fish, which will be referred to as "fish reassembled."    


Certainly a step forward towards a more conscious nutrition.


Previous legislation:



2000/13/EC - Labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs;

90/496/EEC - Nutrition labeling of food products.




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