Nutritional labeling and Claims

Introduction

In a world where food options abound, deciphering the nutritional content of what we consume has never been more important. Nutritional labelling serves as your guide, providing essential information about the food's ingredients, serving size, calories, and more. Join us as we unravel the significance of nutritional labelling and empower you to make informed and healthier food choices.

Understanding the basics

Nutritional labels are like passports for your food, giving you access to a wealth of information in a compact format. Here's what you'll typically find on a nutritional label:

Serving Size: This indicates the recommended portion size for the product. Keep in mind that the rest of the information on the label corresponds to this serving size.

Calories: The caloric content per serving helps you manage your daily energy intake.

Macronutrients: These include the amounts of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in each serving. They provide insights into the nutritional composition of the food.

Dietary Fiber and Sugars: Understanding the fiber content can aid digestive health, while knowing the sugar content helps manage added sugar consumption.

Vitamins and Minerals: Some labels provide information about essential nutrients like vitamins (e.g., vitamin C) and minerals (e.g., calcium).

Percent Daily Value (%DV): This indicates how much a serving of the food contributes to your daily nutrient intake based on a standard diet of 2,000 calories. It's a useful reference point to gauge the nutritional significance of the food.

Decoding the label

Check Serving Sizes: Be mindful of portion sizes. If you consume more or less than the listed serving, adjust the nutritional values accordingly.

Calories Count: Use the calorie information to manage your energy intake throughout the day.

Macronutrient Balance: Balance your intake of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins based on your dietary goals and preferences.

Limit Sugars and Sodium: Keep an eye on added sugars and sodium levels, as excessive consumption can impact health.

Maximize Nutrients: Opt for foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber to promote overall well-being.

Use %DV as a Guide: Aim for foods with higher %DV of nutrients like vitamins and minerals, while limiting those with high %DV of saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars.

The significance of testing

Market overview

In 2022, the Nutritional Labeling market holds a valuation of approximately USD 13.0 billion. Forecasts indicate a steady growth trajectory with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.4% throughout the forecast period. By 2032, the market is expected to attain a value of around USD 18.1 billion.

Recall incidents 

A total of 2470 instances of food recalls and alerts were linked to labelling errors. The most prevalent cause of recalls was undeclared allergens. Out of the 2301 recalls related to food allergens, a total of 3100 undeclared allergens were identified. Among these, the top three contributors were milk (26.55%), gluten (13.16%), and tree nuts (11.52%).

In terms of affected food products, baked goods accounted for the highest percentage (18.65%) of cases involving undeclared, incorrect, or missing information about food allergens. Ready-to-eat meals/heat-and-serve items followed with 11.10%, and confectionery products ranked third with 10.87%.

Regulations and standards

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulates nutritional labelling in India. The FSSAI Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, lays down the rules and regulations for nutritional labelling of pre-packaged food in India.

The following are the key requirements of the FSSAI regulations for nutritional labelling in India:

• Nutritional information must be provided on the label for all pre-packaged food.
• Nutritional information must be expressed per 100g or 100ml of the food.
• The following nutrients must be declared on the label: energy, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and protein.
• The label must also include daily values for the nutrients that are listed. These values are based on the recommended dietary intakes for different age groups and genders.
• Manufacturers may make claims about the nutritional content of their food, such as "low fat" or "high fiber." However, these claims must be truthful and substantiated by scientific evidence.
• Manufacturers must list all of the major allergens that are present in their food. This includes allergens such as peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, soy, wheat, and shellfish.

The FSSAI regulations also set out specific requirements for the presentation of nutritional information on the label. The font size must be at least 2mm, and the information must be presented in a clear and easy-to-understand way. The label must also be prominently displayed on the front of the package. The FSSAI regulations for nutritional labelling are designed to help consumers make informed choices about the food they eat. By providing clear and accurate information about the nutritional content of food, the regulations can help consumers make healthier choices and improve their overall diet.

Testing methods

Nutritional labelling is essential for providing consumers with information about the nutritional content of food products. There are several testing methods and regulations in place to ensure accurate and standardized nutritional labelling. Here are some key methods used for testing nutritional information:

Eurofins role in nutritional labeling

Eurofins is a global scientific services company that provides a wide range of testing, inspection, and certification services, including those related to nutritional labeling. In the context of nutritional labeling, Eurofins plays a significant role by offering various services to food manufacturers and producers to ensure accurate and compliant nutritional information on their products. Here's how Eurofins is involved in nutritional labeling:

Nutritional Analysis: Eurofins offers laboratory testing services to analyze the nutrient content of food products. This includes determining the levels of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), fiber, and other relevant components. The results of these analyses are used to create accurate Nutrition Facts Panels for product packaging

Allergen Testing: Eurofins provides allergen testing services to identify the presence of common allergens like gluten, dairy, nuts, and more. This information is crucial for labeling products accurately to ensure the safety of individuals with allergies.

Food Label Compliance: Eurofins helps food manufacturers ensure their product labels comply with regional and international regulations. This involves reviewing label content, format, and presentation to ensure that all required information is included and presented correctly.

Nutrition Claims Verification: Eurofins can verify the accuracy of nutrition and health claims made on product labels. This ensures that any claims related to low-fat, high-fiber, reduced-calorie, etc., are supported by valid testing and analysis.

Consulting and Regulatory Support: Eurofins offers consulting services to guide manufacturers through the complexities of nutritional labeling regulations. They help clients understand and implement labeling requirements set by regulatory authorities like the FDA, EFSA, and other relevant bodies.

Reference Materials and Calibration: Eurofins provides certified reference materials that laboratories can use to calibrate their equipment and ensure accurate testing. This is particularly important for maintaining consistency in nutritional analysis.

Customized Testing Solutions: Depending on the specific needs of the client and the product, Eurofins can develop customized testing protocols and methodologies to ensure accurate nutritional labeling.

Sensory and Consumer Studies: Eurofins may also conduct sensory evaluations and consumer studies to assess product acceptability and preferences, which can provide valuable insights for both nutritional labeling and product development.

Eurofins Analytical Services India, located in Bangalore, has achieved a significant milestone by receiving recognition from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program. This makes Eurofins the first laboratory in Asia to receive such recognition.

References

1. Van den Wijngaart AW. Nutrition labelling: purpose, scientific issues and challenges. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2002;11(2):S68-71. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-6047.2002.00001.x. PMID: 12074189.
2. https://www.who.int/initiatives/food-systems-for-health/nutrition-labelling
3. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/nutritional-labeling-market#:~:text=

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