Food labels are essential pieces of information fixed on products, providing details on the contents of the food. Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CODEX STAN 1-1985) defines food label as “any tag, brand, mark, image, or other descriptive information that is written, printed, stenciled, marked, embossed, or impressed on, or attached to, a food container or food product.”
This label provides important information on the ingredients, product contents, expiration dates, serving size, nutritional value, allergen information, religious beliefs, ethical preferences, health claims, and special dietary needs. Clear and accurate product labeling helps and empowers consumers to make informed choices, avoid health risks, and follow dietary guidelines that protect their well-being.
Food labels contains more or less the following information such as an ingredient list of which is crucial for those individual who may suffer from food sensitivities or intolerances, such as lactose or gluten. The list may identify preservatives, colorings, allergens, and harmful food additives. The label may contain nutritional information such as proteins, carbohydrates, sugar, fats, fibers, vitamins, and minerals, and most importantly, the calories, which may help consumers make informative, healthier choices, particularly for those with conditions like heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes. Expiration dates are vital in helping the consumers comprehend the safety and quality of the food product they purchased.
These dates usually include "Best Before," "Use By," and "Sell By" to safeguard consumers from risks of foodborne illnesses and reduce food waste over time. Individuals with specific dietary needs can benefit from the information provided by food labels by understanding the health claims label. These claims assist individuals with specific dietary needs by providing allergen information, such as nuts, dairy, and gluten, highlighted in bold or in different text fonts to help these individuals avoid life-threatening reactions to these allergens
Furthermore, religious or ethical preferences are addressed in food labels, providing information on the suitability of certain food products, such as halal, kosher, vegan, or vegetarian diets, in ensuring transparency and helping individuals in making informed choices.
Adherence to laws and regulations by food producers and manufacturers is of utmost importance in an era where consumers are increasingly knowledgeable and concerned about their health. Transparency and accountability are essential for ensuring compliance, consistency, and prevention of misleading or deceptive claims on food product labels.
Therefore, effective adherence to labeling regulations and laws promotes fair competition, provides accurate product descriptions, and protects consumers from deceptive marketing practices.
Numerous studies have been conducted in this field, with very promising outcomes in encouraging innovative ideas in the food labeling. One such study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (February 2019, 56(2): 300–314) examined the impact of food labeling on consumer dietary behaviors and industry practices. The meta-analysis included data from 60 studies, with 111 interventions and over 2 million observations across 11 countries.
The findings revealed that food labeling had a significant effect on reducing consumers' intake of total energy and total fat, while it also led to an increase in vegetable consumption. The study also found that food labeling influenced industry practices, particularly in reducing sodium and artificial trans-fat in products. While the results highlight the potential of food labeling to reduce certain unhealthy dietary components, further research is needed to explore its effects on additional dietary targets, disease risk factors, and clinical health outcomes.
A study on "Impact of Color-Coded and Warning Nutrition Labeling Schemes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis" published in 2021 in PLOS Medicine evaluated the effectiveness of color-coded and warning labels in influencing consumer food choices. The study found that both types of labels improved the understanding of nutritional content, but warning labels were more effective in encouraging healthier choices and reducing unhealthy food selection. Warning labels, which highlight health risks like excessive sugar, fat, or sodium, were particularly impactful in altering consumer behavior.
"Towards a New Food Labeling System for Sustainable Food Production and Healthy Responsible Consumption: The Med Index Checklist" is one of the newly published studies in the Journal of Functional Foods (2022), proposing a new innovative approach named the Mediterranean Index (Med Index), which combines nutritional, environmental, and social sustainability.
Inspired by the Mediterranean Diet, the study encourages healthier, more sustainable food choices, focusing on plant-based foods, healthy fats, and responsible consumption. The proposed labeling system aims to raise consumer awareness, promoting physical activity consistent with the energy intake of meals and influencing industry practices towards more sustainable production. It supports policymakers on the utilization of sustainable food and agriculture practices and advocates for a unified global food-labeling standard to promote both health and environmental goals across food systems globally. This system is set to be examined in 2024 by the European Commission as a new sustainable labeling framework.
In the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) introduced the GSO 2751:2024 standard focusing on the requirements and procedures for displaying nutritional information on food product packaging. The standard ensures consistency and clarity in the way nutritional information is communicated to consumers, improving transparency and enabling informed decision-making regarding food choices. It outlines how nutritional data should be presented in the form of graphical labels (light signals) to help consumers easily understand the nutritional content, such as calorie counts, fat content, sugars, and other relevant nutrients.
If implemented in Oman and the Gulf region, this standard will promote healthier eating habits across the region, allowing consumers to make better dietary decisions based on easily interpretable food labels.
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