Better-informed consumers and greater transparency in the relationship between producer and consumer: this is the direction in which the latest regulations on food labelling are moving. While this philosophy obliges producers to indicate a series of elements on the label in order to provide accurate information, it also asks consumers to learn how to read labels critically and thoroughly, because only in this way will they be able to know the products they are buying.

What are the rules for food labelling

The first rule concerns language: on all products sold in Italy, the information must be in Italian. But let us look at what information must always appear on food labels. The name of the product must be relevant to its contents. If it mentions an ingredient, that ingredient must be clearly stated on the label.

The list of ingredients must by law be listed in descending order of weight. All ingredients must be listed, with the exception of certain ones for which it is sufficient to indicate the category to which they belong (for example, vegetable oils).

The net weight, that is, excluding the weight of the packaging. For solid products immersed in a liquid (such as mozzarella, for example), it is compulsory to state the "drained weight" in addition to the net weight, except for oil (in products preserved in oil, for example), which is considered an ingredient. If the weight is followed by an "e", it means it has been predetermined mechanically.

Food labelling, expiry dates and storage instructions

The minimum durability date, or expiry date, is the date (day, month, year) by which the product must be consumed. The wording permitted by law is "da consumarsi entro…" ("consume by…") for products whose chemical composition or risk of bacterial deterioration makes it mandatory to consume them by the stated date (such as milk, butter, and fresh prepared and packaged fish). For biscuits, coffee, dried pasta, and other long-lasting products, the wording "da consumarsi preferibilmente entro…" ("best before…") is sufficient, to indicate that, if the food is stored properly and suffers no damage, it may still be consumed after that date.

Storage instructions and directions for use are mandatory on products for which omitting them would prevent correct storage (frozen foods) or correct use (preparations for puddings or cakes, instant mashed potato flakes, frozen foods).

Certain specific regulations, such as those relating to PDO and PGI products or the recent rules on meat, require the name and address of the producer, packer or seller to be stated. It is in any case always compulsory to indicate the address of the production facility and the batch number, and, for all alcoholic beverages such as wine and spirits, the alcoholic strength by volume (which indicates the percentage of alcohol).

For organic products too, food labelling is compulsory, and consumer information must include the name, code and details of the inspection body along with an authorisation number for printing the label. Finally, it must be stated if a product "contains genetically modified organisms", if these are present in a quantity greater than 1 per cent. Other rules govern so-called dietary and "light" products.

Betty Pajè