Required packaging items and location identity statement. Name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. Identity of the food in the form of a package Name of the manufacturer, packer or distributor The establishment will include the mailing address, city, state and zip code. The information panel will include the ingredient statement, the name of the manufacturer, the packager or the distributor and the establishment.
The FDA regulates all foods, except meat and poultry products and products with broken eggs, which are regulated by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the Department of Agriculture. A lot of information about food products is already available on the Internet, and it is common for food labels to refer consumers to websites, for example, using QR codes. Food labels are effective marketing tools, but the manufacturer has a responsibility to ensure that the food label is accurate and complies with all applicable standards, and that it is truthful and not misleading. The labeling of food products in some non-EU countries is also analysed and examples of similarities or differences compared to EU food labels are given.
Although more than 20 states require the dating of some foods, there are areas of the country where much of the food supply is barely dated. A food label can literally be a label, a piece (or pieces) of printed paper attached to a food package, or it can comprise all or part of the printed or lithographed outer surface of the package. Information on food labels should help consumers to develop a balanced diet and to avoid risks that may be related to the consumption of foods that contain allergens. In addition, respondents who were skeptical about genetically modified food products expressed more support for the concept of labeling genetically modified food products.
Food labels must be clear and understandable to help consumers who want to make better informed food and dietary choices. Many food labels already seem to be overloaded, and the developments outlined at the beginning of this chapter suggest that food products will become even richer in information in the future. While there are other foods that sensitive people can react to, the labels of packaged foods that contain these other allergens are not required to specify those ingredients or substances as allergens. Food labels are important tools for educating consumers about the health of certain foods and the benefits of following a nutritious diet.
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