Reasons Why Food Labeling Is Important

All packaged foods generally come with labeling to provide consumers with the information necessary to know what they are actually eating. Food labeling is a legal requirement for food producers. Of course, understanding what is in the food you are eating can help you make healthier choices.

In addition to that, checking food labels definitely makes it easier for you to compare the nutrient content of different options. Food nutrition testing laboratories usually test the nutritional value of various foods to know their nutritional value.

It is no secret that a healthy diet is vital in your life. Checking out the nutrition labels is a great move toward improving your diet and ultimately, improving your lifestyle.

1.   It is a legal requirement

As already stated above, food labeling is a legal requirement for packaging. As a food producer, you are legally required to correctly label all your food products. Failing to comply with this can land you in severe problems. If the authorities find you non-compliant, the first thing they will do is to give you an improvement notice, which will highlight what you are doing wrong, which rules you are breaking, and the necessary steps you need to take to adhere to and by when,

While you can continue with your production even after receiving an improvement notice, but you need to take the highlighted steps to bring your business into compliance within the stipulated timeframe. If you choose to ignore the notice or do not comply even after the specified date, you will be committing an offense, which can make you be prosecuted.

Generally, a pre-packaged food needs to include the following details on its labels:

• The name of the food product
• A list of all the ingredients
• The percentage of certain ingredients
• Any instructions for use like cooking instructions if necessary
• ‘Use by’ or ‘best before’ dates
• Storage instructions
• Contact details
• Country of origin

2.   Keep healthy

Another incredible reason food labeling is important is that it helps you understand the composition of your food.  You will know the percentage of vitamins, fats, calories, minerals, etc. Of course, this information is fundamental as it helps ensures that you are eating the kinds of foods that are good for you. With labels, you can easily monitor your intake of micronutrients to avoid deficiencies, especially vital ones, such as Vitamin D and iron. In addition to that, you can limit your intake of sugar and salt and ensure that you are eating a balanced diet. That can help prevent illnesses, such as diabetes, obesity, and certain types of heart disease.

3.   Helps you cut back

Typically, many people are consuming too much salt, added sugar, and saturated fat without even realizing it. Checking the nutrition labels to know what and how much you are eating is crucial as it can help you cut back on your intake. It is advisable to reduce your sodium intake to less than 2,300mg per day and your added sugar and saturated fat to not more than 5-15% of your daily calories. This is according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. If you want to reach your goal of reducing these components, pay attention to food labels for guidance.

4.   Help you improve your diet

Even with so many varieties of nutritious foods available, many people still fail to eat the recommended amounts of essential nutrients. For instance, it is recommended to eat plenty of dietary fiber. You should aim to get at least 25 grams of fiber if you are female and 38 grams if you are male. Checking food labels for the fiber content plays a huge role in helping you boost your intake of dietary fiber. Food nutrition testing laboratories are tasked with testing the nutrient value of food products.

5.   Stops you from buying counterfeit products

One of the aims of food labeling is that it tends to help curb fraud. Without globally recognized labels, food producers and sellers could intentionally mislead consumers through false demonstrations on the packaging. As a consumer, you want to ensure that what you are buying is actually what the product is. For instance, when you buy chocolate, you want to ensure that is actually chocolate. That’s where food labeling comes in; it ensures that the product is actually what is written on the label.

6.   It helps prevent allergic reactions

Consumers with food allergies can potentially suffer severe consequences if they consume foods that they are allergic to. That’s why it is crucial for them to be extra cautious when it comes to the food they are eating. If somebody accidentally ingests food they are allergic to, it will cause an allergic reaction, and in some cases, it can be life-threatening.

So, you need to take a look at the product’s labeling and read the ingredients. Take a look at the ingredients and see if you are allergic to any of them. If you are allergic to most of the ingredients, it is best to ignore that particular food product.

7.   Stops you from wasting food

Food labels, when read correctly, can help you prevent throwing out good food. ‘Best before’ or ‘sell by dates can let you know for how long the product will be safe to eat. This is especially important to avoid eating expired food, which can cause serious illness.

Generally, educating supply chain stakeholders and consumers can go a long way in preventing food waste and ensuring that date markings are true. This can help consumers keep foods that are safe to eat.

Final thoughts

The importance of food labeling can never be undervalued. Food labeling is vital, and that’s why it is a legal requirement for food producers. The main aim of food labeling is that it can help you understand better what you are eating, and the amount you are eating. So, the next time you are at the supermarket doing your shopping, make sure you carefully read the label before you actually purchase that particular food product.