Meeting Industry Regulations With Your Food Label Design
A lot more goes into food packaging labels than meets the eye, with many considerations to make before your products can hit the shelf. As well as creating a unique design which catches the eye of passers-by and entices them to give your tasty offering a try, you need to consider the industry regulations. In order to be able to sell your food products in public stores, cafés or restaurants, the correct information must be displayed on your custom labels to meet the legal requirements.
To save you spending hours researching the necessities for your food label design, we have pulled together a checklist for you to use. The level of details required will differ depending on the nature of your product, but the following information is mandatory for the majority of food label designs.
- Product summary
The main text on your food label design should be an accurate representation of the contents, including no misleading wording. Although the product name itself can use branded terms, a descriptive summary of the food type should be easily visible.
- Ingredient list
Every ingredient used in your product should be listed within your food label design, mentioned in order of weight so the main ingredients are visible first. For some products which contain only a single ingredient, an ingredient list is not required. Examples of exemptions include fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Allergen information
There is a list of 14 allergens which are a legal requirement to be mentioned on food label designs, using bold text to emphasise their presence. These common allergens include gluten, eggs, milk, peanuts and other common allergies which can be harmful to consumers.
- Expiration date
It should be made clear how long the product can safely be used for, with an accurate date printed on each individual label. Depending on the nature of your food range, a ‘best before’ date may be suitable instead of a ‘use by’ date.
- Storage information
Your food label design should include information on how the product should be stored to keep it in a safe condition. For fresh food, details of the storage temperature will be required and for store cupboard items, include information on where to keep it to maintain its condition.
- Net weight
The weight of the product is required to comply with regulations, providing an accurate measurement. If the weight varies from product to product for items like fresh fruit or hand sliced meats, the weight should be printed on a label alongside the price.
- Manufacturer information
The source of the product should be clearly visible on your food label design, including the name and address of the manufacturer. For products imported from overseas, the address of the importer should be used alongside the country of origin.
- Consumption information
For products which need to be prepared before consumption, adequate instructions should be provided for the consumer to follow. This will include preparation as well as cooking information, specifying the temperature of the oven, cooking time and microwave instructions if applicable.
- Nutrition
Food products must declare the nutritional information of the product, including the six standard nutrients. Depending on the nature of the product, a recommended serving size should be mentioned with the relevant nutritional information as well as the same per 100g/ml of the same product.
Whilst we are always happy to guide every customer with their food label requirements it is not our responsibility to ensure the legal requirements are listed on a finished label design. You can find more information here.
Get Started on Your Food Label Design
Here at Labelnet, we have been working with food businesses across all industries to help them create new food label designs that tick all of the right boxes. Our experience in the field means we know how to make your labels stand out with colour, texture and materials perfect for your product.
We are here to help you make a great first impression and portray your brand image in the best possible light. We will get to know your business and your brand, printing quality labels that jump out at your ideal consumer so you can get the best results from our food label printing. If you’d like to learn more, do not hesitate to get in touch with us today. We are always happy to talk you through the options available and send out some samples so you can test the quality for yourself and visualise the potential.