Food Labels
Labeling is defined as “any words, trademarks, particulars, pictorial matter, brand names or symbol relating to a food stuff placed on any packaging, notice, document, ring or collar accompanying or referring to sthat foodstuff” (Cheftel, 2005).
Food label represents the identity card of food products: it reports ingredients, composition and their relative amounts. It gives information about quality, processing, preservatives and origin. This gives the consumer the opportunity to choose what to purchase(Gaia et al, 2016).
Food labeling is a community-based approach that provides information about the nutrient content of food to the consumer in order to make food selection environment more favorable to more healthy choices. Food
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Using food labels is an easy, universal way to communicate to participants about their food choices. It should be large, visible, clearly stating the food’s name and names can be translated into common languages of consumers( Sydney and Maggie,2016).
Governments all over the world are using or considering front of package (FOP) food labeling systems to provide nutrition information to consumers. The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act(NELA) of 1990 requires all packaged foods in the United States to display the Nutrition Facts label. Since the law’s enactment, the United States food and beverage industry has modified the front of package (FOP) nutrition labeling systems to be more easy and provide consumers with the nutrition information that can be quickly interpreted. The new front of package(FOP) labeling system is called Facts Up Front it includes information about calories, saturated fat, sugars, sodium and other nutrients(Roberto et al, 2012).
The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act(NLEA) integrates the mandatory Nutrition Facts Panel to labeling laws to help the consumers to choose more healthful foods by providing them access to standardized, consistent and credible nutrition information about their food (Variyam, 2008).
label statements are based on the following