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This lesson covers food labelling requirements and how labels help consumers make informed food choices, as required by the AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition specification (8585), section 3.5. You need to understand what information must appear on a food label by law and how to interpret nutritional information.
Food labels provide essential information that helps consumers:
UK law requires the following information on pre-packed food:
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name of the food | Must accurately describe the food (e.g., "Chicken and mushroom pie" not just "pie") |
| Ingredients list | Listed in descending order of weight — the first ingredient is the largest proportion |
| Allergen information | The 14 major allergens must be emphasised (usually in bold) within the ingredients list |
| Net quantity | Weight (grams/kilograms) or volume (millilitres/litres) |
| Date mark | Use-by date (perishable foods) or best-before date (longer-life foods) |
| Storage conditions | How to store the food (e.g., "Keep refrigerated below 5°C") |
| Preparation/cooking instructions | If needed for safe consumption |
| Name and address of manufacturer | Or the packer/seller; allows traceability and contact in case of complaints |
| Country of origin | Required for certain foods (meat, fish, honey, olive oil, fresh fruit and vegetables) |
| Nutrition declaration | Mandatory nutritional information (see below) |
| Lot/batch number | For traceability in case of product recall |
| Alcohol content | If the drink contains more than 1.2% alcohol by volume |
The ingredients list is one of the most important parts of the food label:
Example: Chicken and Vegetable Soup
Ingredients: Water, chicken (15%), potatoes, carrots, onions, peas, wheat flour, salt, black pepper, celery extract, chicken stock (contains wheat, celery).
From this label, you can determine:
Exam Tip: Exam questions often present an ingredients list and ask you to identify the main ingredient (the first one listed) or the allergens (highlighted in bold). Practise reading real food labels at home.
Since December 2016, a nutrition declaration has been mandatory on most pre-packed foods in the UK. The following must be displayed per 100g or per 100ml:
| Nutrient | Must Be Declared |
|---|---|
| Energy | In kilojoules (kJ) and kilocalories (kcal) |
| Fat | Total fat in grams |
| Saturates | Saturated fat in grams (sub-category of fat) |
| Carbohydrate | Total carbohydrate in grams |
| Sugars | Total sugars in grams (sub-category of carbohydrate) |
| Protein | In grams |
| Salt | In grams |
| Nutrient | May Also Be Declared |
|---|---|
| Fibre | Encouraged but not mandatory |
| Specific vitamins and minerals | If a claim is made (e.g., "high in vitamin C") |
| Mono-unsaturates | Sub-category of fat |
| Polyunsaturates | Sub-category of fat |
| Starch | Sub-category of carbohydrate |
Nutritional information is always given per 100g (or 100ml). Some manufacturers also provide information per portion or per serving:
| Display | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Per 100g | Mandatory; allows direct comparison between products |
| Per portion | Optional; shows what you actually consume in a typical serving |
Exam Tip: When comparing products, always use the per 100g figures, not per portion — portion sizes vary between manufacturers, so per-portion figures are not directly comparable.
The traffic light labelling system is a voluntary scheme used on the front of packaging to help consumers quickly assess the nutritional content of food:
| Colour | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Green | Low — a healthy amount | Choose freely |
| 🟡 Amber | Medium — an acceptable amount | OK most of the time |
| 🔴 Red | High — a large amount | Consume occasionally or in small amounts |
| Nutrient | Green (Low) | Amber (Medium) | Red (High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat | ≤3.0g | 3.1–17.5g | >17.5g |
| Saturates | ≤1.5g | 1.6–5.0g | >5.0g |
| Sugars | ≤5.0g | 5.1–22.5g | >22.5g |
| Salt | ≤0.3g | 0.31–1.5g | >1.5g |
flowchart LR
A["Reading Traffic<br/>Light Labels"] --> B["🟢 GREEN<br/>LOW<br/>Choose this"]
A --> C["🟡 AMBER<br/>MEDIUM<br/>OK sometimes"]
A --> D["🔴 RED<br/>HIGH<br/>Limit intake"]
style B fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
style C fill:#f39c12,color:#fff
style D fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Quick and easy to understand | Voluntary — not all manufacturers use it |
| Helps consumers make healthier choices at a glance | Based on per 100g, which may be misleading for foods eaten in small/large quantities |
| Colour-coded — accessible even with low literacy | Does not account for overall diet — one red item in a balanced diet is fine |
| Highlights specific nutrients of concern | Some healthy foods show red (e.g., olive oil is high in fat but contains healthy fats) |
Exam Tip: If asked to evaluate the traffic light system, give both positives and negatives. A common criticism is that it can be misleading — for example, cheese always shows red for fat and saturates, but cheese provides valuable calcium and protein.
In addition to traffic lights, front-of-pack labels often show:
Reference Intakes (formerly Guideline Daily Amounts) are based on an average adult (female):
| Nutrient | Reference Intake |
|---|---|
| Energy | 2,000 kcal |
| Fat | 70g |
| Saturates | 20g |
| Carbohydrate | 260g |
| Sugars | 90g |
| Protein | 50g |
| Salt | 6g |
A product showing "15% RI" for fat means one portion provides 15% of your total daily fat allowance.
Food labels may carry health claims or nutrition claims, but these are strictly regulated:
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