All food products approved for sale must be properly labelled. How does label data protect customers from marketing influences? What information can food producers use to their advantage? What should be on the product packaging? The following article will introduce you to the food labeling regulations that apply to Poland and the European Union.
What does "food labeling" mean and what are the laws governing their placement?
Food labeling is nothing more than placing on the packaging, label or packaging information in the form of an illustration, trademark or trademark, as well as a verbal description concerning name, expiration date, composition, nutritional value of the product, or other commercial aspects.
The information placed on the food product packaging is specified in both Polish and European legislation. This is m.in.:
- Regulation (EC) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 On providing consumers with information about food products;
- Law of August 25, 2006 About safety of food products and nutrition (from 2006 No. 17., item 1225 from late mind.);
- Regulation (EC) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the organic production and labelling of organic products;
- Law of December 21, 2000 On the Commercial quality of agri-food products (No. 5 of 2001, item 44 of the latest edition);
- Resolution of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of July 10, 2007 on labeling of food products (No. 137, item 966 of the latest edition);
- Commission Regulation (EC) 2018/775 of 28 May 2018 laying down the rules for the application of article 26 (3) of Regulation (EC) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of information to consumers on foodstuffs with regard to the rules concerning the indication of the country or place of origin of the main food ingredient.
The responsibility to label a food product mainly lies with the manufacturer, importer and distributor who introduces the product into commercial circulation.
What information should be on the label?
In accordance with the above-mentioned legal acts, each food product allowed for circulation must contain the following information::
- name that identifies the food product (brand);
- nutritional value of the product, including energy value, amount of fat, saturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates, protein and salts;
- list of ingredients;
- ingredients or substances that were used during production and may cause food allergies or intolerances;
- net packaging or number of pieces of packaged products;
- storage conditions or Conditions of use of the product;
- production batch indication;
- minimum shelf life or expiration date;
- country or place of origin of the product or components of the product;
- the actual volume content of alcohol in relation to beverages containing more than 1.2% by volume.
What the manufacturer can additionally place on the packaging is:
- additional nutrients: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyatomic alcohols, starch, fiber, vitamins and minerals;
- description of the nature of the product (for example, an ecological product);
- special health-promoting properties (for example, fortifying the product with a higher content of selected nutrients);
- optional advertising elements.
It is important to note that all information placed on the packaging must correspond to the actual state of the article. They can't mislead the consumer. m.in. regarding the nature of the product, its composition, size, durability, production or manufacturing methods, or country of origin. It is also forbidden to attribute actions or properties to a food product that it does not possess.
All of the above principles are enshrined not only in the food legislation, but also in the rules concerning the fight against unfair competition.
GDA marking system
GDA - or specified daily intake-is a reference value for the level of individual nutrient intake in the daily diet of an adult and healthy person. In accordance with the new food labeling requirements, the GDA is defined as RWS, or Reference Consumption Values.
What is the use of this kind of information? The RWS designation (expressed as a percentage) tells us how much of the selected product we should consume in order to provide the body with a sufficient supply of all nutrients. It also informs us that some foods should not be consumed in excessive amounts, as they can become a source of ingredients that negatively affect health (for example, salt or saturated fatty acids). Thus, the placement of RWS information is not only information, but also a way to educate consumers about the composition and cost of selected products.
However, it is worth noting that these values are generalized for an adult, healthy person who consumes an average of 2000 kcal per day. They do not take into account any individual factors that may affect the needs of the body. So, it's not a perfect concept, but it allows you to refer to a specific template, based on which we know how to choose the right products.
Rules for labeling organic food products
The rules for the labelling of organic foodstuffs are regulated by Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on the organic production of agricultural products and the labelling of agricultural products and foodstuffs. According to him, the words "ECO", "ECO", "organic" or " bio " are reserved exclusively for products derived from organic agriculture.
Thanks to Regulation 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products, the rules for labelling organic products have been tightened. Organic products must consist mainly (more than 50%) of ingredients of agricultural origin (however, excluding water and salt), and 95% of ingredients of agricultural origin must come from organic agriculture.
It is also worth noting that food manufacturers often try to use certain advertising slogans, describing the product as "natural”," straight from nature ", etc. Keep in mind that these types of wording are only a marketing tool and do not indicate the origin of the product. Only and only the previously mentioned designations guarantee that the purchased product is organic and comes from a certified organic farm.
On the other hand, if the farm meets all types of standards and has received appropriate certificates that guarantee that food production meets accepted organic farming standards, the manufacturer may (but does not have to) place such information on the packaging. This is a very good way to advertise a product, allowing you to distinguish it from other competing articles.
What does the control and control of food labeling look like?
Food products in circulation are controlled Trade Inspection Of Agri-Food Products (abbreviated as IHARS). This block controls both the commercial quality and the correct labeling of the product. This control is carried out in wholesale and retail stores.
During control, the quality of food products is checked organoleptically and in the laboratory. Thanks to this, it is possible to really evaluate the compliance of parameters with those declared by manufacturers on the label. First of all, it is checked whether the information placed on the label meets the requirements of current standards.
If violations are detected, IHARS can:
- prohibit the sale of goods that do not meet the quality, transportation, or storage requirements,
- oblige to introduce appropriate procedures and adjustments,
- prohibit storage of goods under unsuitable conditions or transportation in unsuitable vehicles,
- order the article to be destroyed.
What should I do if the consumer notices violations in the product labeling, or the information on the label is not clear? In this case, you should contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Authority.
Why is proper food labeling so important?
Proper labeling of food products is, first of all, protecting the interests of the consumer – thanks to it, he can make an informed decision about the choice of the purchased product. This is important not only for marketing reasons. Placing relevant information on the label ensures the safety of the food product, including its health, nutritional and sensory value.
Therefore, proper food labeling is very important – especially for people who pay attention to the correct diet, or for those who, for health reasons, must avoid certain ingredients and foods.
Labels are the most important source of information about food; they are also a form of advertising. The message posted on them should be clear, readable, and easy for the average consumer to understand. Above all: labels should not be misleading. In the end, it is thanks to them that we can consciously make decisions and be sure that the purchased product corresponds to what the manufacturer claims.
Bibliography:
- https://www.gov.pl/web/wsse-katowice/znakowanie
- https://www.gov.pl/web/gis/podstawowe-wymagania-dotyczace-znakowania-zywnosci
- Official Journal of the European Union (2011). Received 10.11.2022 from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PL/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32011R1169
- Kowalska, A., & Kowalski, J. (2020). Labeling of non-GMO products in the Polish food law system. Legal, Economic and Sociological Movement, 82 (2), 213-228.
- Regulation (EC) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the Organic Production and Labelling of Organic Products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, together with the latest version.
- Sałata B. 2015. Food labeling requirements. Agricultural Consulting Center in Brwinów Radom Branch 2015 ISBN 978-83-63411-52-7: 5-11, 13
- Wojciechowski, P. (2021). Food labeling as a tool for achieving the goals of food law-Selected issues. Review of Agricultural Law, (2 (29), 509-529.
Junior specialist in Marketing Communications and PR.
He is a graduate of the University of Warsaw and the Main School of Agriculture. We have been in the HoReCa industry for more than 10 years. For many years, he has been associated with the Trip group, Sobienie Royal Golf and Country Club, and the Florentin Restaurant in Warsaw.
She graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of the Warsaw Technical University with a degree in Architecture for the Knowledge Society and Visual Communications at the Polytechnic University of Milan. A specialist in creating a mood. She has gained experience at home and abroad at numerous international seminars (Seville, Lisbon, Florence), fellowships at La Sapienza (Rome), etc. m.in. in Carmi e Ubertis and ADM Milano.
A manager with many years of experience in the cosmetics, food, and children's industries. During his career, he was associated with such companies as: L'Oreal, Samsung, Danone-Nutricia, Unilever. During his professional life, he was responsible, among other things, for the development of e-commerce sales and content in Poland and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. 
