Food Labelling
Trading Standards help to ensure that consumers can be confident in their choice of foods and are able to buy according to their particular requirements, be it for a diet and health reasons, personal taste and preferences or the cost, by checking that the information on the label is correct.
Food is usually required to be marked or labelled with the following:
- the name of the food
- a list of ingredients
- the amount of an ingredient which is named or associated with the food
- “Best Before” or “Use By” date
- any special storage conditions
- the name of business and manufacturer
- the place of origin
- the process used in manufacture
- instructions for use
Trading Standards can inspect and take samples from retail premises relating to the quality and labelling of food, eggs for example must be size graded and must be marked specifically with certain other information on the packaging.
Trading Standards are also responsible for ensuring the ingredients, marking and labelling of pet food is also accurate.
If food is misdescribed, not only is the consumer being deceived, but it can also create unfair competition for the honest retailer or manufacturer.
Falsely describing, advertising or presenting food is an offence. Certain names of foods we buy are protected by law and must also comply with strict compositional requirements (e.g. chocolate and mineral water).
Misdescriptions can take many forms:
- Selling a “Beef Burger” with only 30% real beef.
- Pouring cheap vodka from a Smirnoff bottle.
- Calling it “Chicken Breast” when it is made from mechanically reformed beef.
- Watering down a bottle of brandy.
- Selling “Crab Sticks” that contain no crab.
- The weight of the food.
- Using “Cornish clotted cream” when it isn’t made there.
In the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham food enforcement is generally carried out by Environmental Health who can be contacted on 0208 753 1081 or click on the following link to their web-page: Environmental Health
For further information on food labels see the Food Standards Agency websites:
Eatwell consumer website
http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/foodlabels
Legislation Guidance for Traders
Guidance for traders of new food regulations coming into force can be found here:
http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/guidancenotes/
Labelling Guidance for Traders
Guidance notes for manufacturers on food labelling including the uses of place of origin, QUID, food (lot marking), what food should carry a 'use by' date and nutrition labelling is available at the following website:
http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/guidancenotes/labelregsguidance/
Further advice from the Trading Standards Institute is found below (the external website will open in new window):
Food Labelling for Greengrocers
A guide for producers of eggs selling directly to consumers
Retail sale and labelling of eggs
Specified allergenic ingredients - commonly asked questions
Guidance notes on jam and similar products
Meat Products Compositional Standards
Colours in restaurant and take-away food
Advice for caterers on food allergens and intolerance
Food labelling for catering establishments
Food Labelling for Fishmongers
Guidance notes for honey packers
Advice to restaurant owners and managers
Foreign language labelled foods
Keeping within the law in pubs, restaurants and cafes
Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods
A Guide for Producers, Processors and Packers of Organic Products
