USA Food Labeling - BioFach America

‘Fit for FDA’Hannover, Germany© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Food Labeling in US• Mandated by Federal and State Laws to ensureaccurate representation of the food product.• Written declaration of information for the consumer.© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

General Label Provisions• FDA’s authority to regulate USA food labeling isprovided in three laws:1. Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)2. Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA)3. Public Health Service Act (PHS)© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Mandatory Label Requirements• The label must contain:• Identity of food• Ingredient statement• Amount of food of package• Name, place of business (customs: Country of Origin)• Nutrition information (unless exempt)• Information disclosing material facts about the food.• Allergen labeling• Handling Instructions© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Label Information‣MandatoryRequired by relevant statutes and governed byregulations in the Code of Federal Regulations.Must appear on Principal Display Panel (PDP) or in theinformation panel.‣VoluntaryUsed at manufacturer’s discretion (claims, marketingstatements, promotions, etc.)‣All labeling must be truthful and not misleading.© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Name of Identity of Food• Common or usual name of food product• Standard of identity name.• Descriptive name, not misleading• Placed on label parallel to base of package• Should stand out• Bold type• At least ½ the size of the largest print on label© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Net Quantity of ContentsStatement• Amount of food in package• Place on PDP, lower 30%, parallel to base, conspicuous• State in metric and U.S. is customary.• Area of PDP determines type size.© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Name and Address of Manufacturer,Packer, or Distributor• Placed on Information Panel• Unless actual manufacturer- “distributed by”, “packedby” added to label.• Address (city, state, country)• Country of origin (required by U.S. Customs)© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Ingredients Labeling• All products fabricated from two or more ingredientsmust bear an ingredient statement.• In general, all ingredients are required to be declaredwhen used in food.• Ingredients must be declared by their common orusual name.• Ingredients list in descendent order.© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Allergen Labeling• Effective January 2006 all allergens present in aproduct must be clearly labeled in one of two formats:• “Contains” option – allergens listed separately after theingredient statement.• “Parenthesis” option – allergens identified within theingredient statement.• Must also consider ‘unintentional allergens”© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Allergen Labeling• List of “official” USA allergens that must be identifiedon the label:• Soybeans• Milk• Eggs• Fish• Crustacean Shellfish• Tree Nuts• Wheat• Peanuts© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Nutrition Information• Now required on most packaged products• Mandatory if any claims are made• Small business exemption• Required to list Trans Fats© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Nutrients Listing• Calories• Calories from fat• Total fat• Saturated fat• Trans fat• Cholesterol• Sodium• Total carbohydrate• Dietary fiber• Sugars• Proteins• Vitamin A• Vitamin C• Calcium• Iron© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Handling Instructions• “Keep Refrigerated”• “Keep Frozen”• “Refrigerate after opening”• “Pack date”• “Sell by”• “Use by”• Expiration date© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

Other Elements• UPC barcode• Irradiation symbol• Number of servings• Sulphites• Percentage of juice© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reserved

© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reservedQuestions?

© Tim Forrest 2012. All rights reservedtim@timforrest.com