How to Prepare Labels for Food for Retail Sale

Guide to Labelling Packaged Food

How to Prepare Labels for Food for Retail Sale

September 2017

DHHS acknowledges the work of the SA Health, Government of South Australiain preparing this document

Guide to Labelling Packaged Food 1

Introduction

Tasmanian councils, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), administer the food labelling provisions of the ‘Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code’ (the Code) adopted under the Tasmanian Food Act 2003.

This guide is designed to help small businesses prepare basic labels for food for retail sale.

This guide does not cover all requirements or exceptions that may apply and is not a substitute for independent legal advice. Food businesses should refer to the Code for more information, particularly if:

• claims or statements that may be regulated are made, or
• the food has specific labelling requirements for additional information.

You can get copies of the Code from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) at:

The labelling provisions of the Code do not address:

• the presence or accuracy of total weights and measures statements
• barcodes
• recycling codes
• composition and labelling of pet food
• therapeutic goods (including dietary aids and supplements) registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration
• from July 2018, country of origin labelling.

Updated versions of this guide are available at

Notes

A reference in square brackets (e.g. [1.2.1]) refers to the relevant standard in the Code.

A reference in this guide to a ‘small package’means a package with a total surface area of less than 100 cm2 [1.1.2].

Why We Have Food Labels

Food labels provide information to help us make healthier and safer food choices. They do the following:

• give a description of the food
• tell us which nutrients, in what amounts, are in a product
• warn us if a food contains food allergens
• when necessary, explain how to store, prepare or cook the food we buy
• list product ingredients
• give us information on where the food came from.

Essentially, food labels are there to provide us with basic information about what is in the food we eat and how best to handle it.

What Food Must Be Labelled?

Allfoodforretailsalemust belabelled [1.2.1]except if the food is:

• unpackaged
• madeandpackagedonthepremisesfromwhichit issold
• for a food to be considered ‘made’ on the premises it must have been processed on the premises in a way that has changed the nature of the food. Merely dividing and repackaging portions of food from bulk to smaller pieces does not in itself qualify the food for an exemption.
• packagedin thepresenceof thepurchaser
• displayed in an assisted service cabinet which requires food to be served on request from the purchaser
• wholeorcutfresh vegetables and fruit in packaging which displays the nature and quality of the food (sprouting seeds are excluded from this exemption)

• delivered packagedand ready forimmediateconsumptionat theorderof thepurchaser (e.g. delivered pizza)
• soldata fundraisingevent
• in an individual portion pack with a total surface area of less than 30 cm2 and not designed for sale without the (labelled) outer package.

Even food exempt from bearing a label must comply with other information requirements under the Code. These include, for example, the requirement to advise the purchaser of the presence of allergens. For more information, see the related fact sheet ‘Food exempt from labelling’ available by following the information for food businesses link at:

What Must Appear

The information presented on the label must:

• be visible on the outside of the package
• be clear
• not mislead the consumer.

1. The name of the food [1.2.2]

Packagedfoodmustbelabelledwitha nameordescription of the food.ForsomefoodstheCode definesthenameofa food asa prescribednameandthat namemust appearonthelabel.Foodswithprescribed namesinclude:

• variousfermented processed or manufactured meats [2.2.1]
• formulatedmealreplacements, formulated supplementary food and formulated supplementary food for young children [2.9.3]
• formulatedsupplementarysports food [2.9.4]
• infantformulaand follow-on formula [2.9.1]
• honey [2.8.2].

Otherfoods thatdonothaveaprescribedname mustshowa nameordescriptionthatindicatesthetrue natureof thefood.

2. Lot identification [1.2.2]

Generally,foodlabelsmustcontainthelot (batch) identification.

Thelot usuallyreferstofood preparedorpackedunder the same conditions and withina periodnotexceeding24hours.

Theserequirementsare usuallysatisfiediftheproductis properlydatemarkedandshowsthebusinessaddressof the manufacturerorpacker.

Wherethis is not sufficientidentificationthenadditional informationthatispart of asystemdevisedbythe makerorpackermustbeused.

3.Premisesname andaddress [1.2.2]

Forfoodrecallandcontactpurposesthelabelmustinclude thenameandbusinessaddressin Australiaor New Zealandof themanufacturer,packer,vendororimporterof thefood.

Afullbusinessaddressisrequired,includingthestreet number,streetname,townorsuburbandstate.A post officeboxorsimilarpostaladdressisnotsufficient.

4.Mandatoryadvisory, warning and declaration information[1.2.3]

Mandatoryadvisorystatementsare requiredonthelabels of thefollowingfoods:

• foodscontainingaddedphytosterolestersortalloil phytosterols
• unpasteurisedmilkandunpasteurisedliquidmilk products
• unpasteurisedeggproducts
• somemilk,evaporatedordriedmilkandsomeequivalent beveragesorproductsmadefrom soyor cereals.

Mandatoryadvisorystatementsare also required in certain circumstances where thefollowingfoods are present:

• bee pollenorpropolis
• cereal-basedbeverages
• coladrinkswithaddedcaffeine
• aspartame
• quinine
• guaranaorextractsofguarana
• lactitol,maltitol,mannitol,xylitol,erythritol,isomalt, polydextroseandsorbitolabovecertainlimits.

A definedmandatorywarningstatementisneededonroyaljellyorfoodcontainingroyaljelly.

Certainingredientsorproductsof thoseingredientsthat maycausea reactioninsomeconsumersmust bedeclared(includingwhenpresentas aprocessingaid).

Theseingredientsaresulphiteadditiveswhenpresentatmorethan 10mg/kg, cerealscontaininggluten,crustacea, egg, fish, milk,peanuts,soybeans,sesame seeds and treenuts. From 26 May 2018, lupin will also need to be declared.

Declarationofthe aboveingredientsandtheirproductsapplies to allfoods. This includes foods exempt from needing a statement of ingredients, portion packs contained inside an outer package if the portion pack has a surface area of 30 cm2or greater and any food that is not required to bear a label.

5.Ingredient labelling [1.2.4]

Withsomeexceptionsfoodlabelsmust includea statementofingredients (including additives).

Exceptionsapplyto alcoholicbeverages,packagedwater,smallpackages,andwherethenameofthefoodisa fulllistof all theingredients.

All ingredientsmustbelistedin descendingorderof in-goingweight.Thismeansthattheingredientpresentin thegreatestproportionislistedfirstandsoon.

Added water mustbeshownin theingredientlistunlessitisused to re-hydrateorreconstitutefoodingredients,formspartof a broth,brineorsyrupalreadyin theingredientlistor representslessthan5%of thefinalfood.Thepositionof waterorothervolatileingredientsis calculatedafterallowingforlossesduringmanufacture.

Ifa foodcontainsacompoundingredient(aningredient madefromotheringredients)theingredientsin that compoundingredientcaneitherbeshownindividuallyin thelistorlistedin descendingorderimmediatelyafter the nameof thecompoundingredientas inthis example:Milk chocolate(sugar,milksolids,cocoabutter,emulsifier476, flavour).

Allfoodsandadditivesina compoundingredientthat contributes5% ormoretothefinalfoodmustbedeclared. Ifthecompoundingredientcontributeslessthan5% to the finalfoodthenonlyadditivesperforminga technologicalfunctionandthoseingredientsthatmaycausea reactionin someconsumersmustbedeclared.

In thecaseof someingredients,itissufficienttostatethe genericnameof thefood.Forexample,theterm“herbs” canbeusedforamixtureof rosemary,thymeandmint.This genericlistingoffoodingredientsmaybeusedfor cheese,cocoabutter,crystallisedfruit,fruit,gumbases, herbs,meat,milkprotein,milksolids,poultrymeat,spices, vegetablesandsugar.Theterm“sugars”mustnotbe used.

Specificconditionsapplytotheuseof the followinggeneric terms:

• Theterms“cereals”or“starch”mustbeaccompaniedby the specificnameof the cerealused.
• Theterm“nuts”must beaccompaniedbythe specific nameof thenut.
• Theterms“fats”and“oils”mustbeidentifiedas beingof vegetableoranimalorigin.Ifafat oroilisfrompeanut, soy, sesame seed or (from 26 May 2018) lupin,thatsourcemustbedeclared. Diacylglyceroloilmustbedeclaredbythatname.The sourceofanimalfats usedin dairyproductsmustbe declared.
• Theterm“fish”maybeusedprovidedtheingredientdoes notincludecrustaceanswhichmustbeseparately declaredbythespecificcrustaceaname.

Withfoodadditives,theadditivemust bedeclaredeitherbyreferencetoitsclassnamefollowedbythefoodadditivenumber,orbytheclassnamefollowedbythe prescribednameof theadditive,forexample: colour(102)or colour(tartrazine).

Ifa food additivecannotbeclassifiedunderoneofthe classnamesdefinedin theCodethenitmust bedeclared usingits prescribedname.

Theadditionof flavouringmustbedeclaredasflavouringorflavouroralternativelyusingthespecificnameordescriptionof theflavouring.Wheretheadditives620, 621, 622,623,624, 625,627,631 or635 areusedasflavouringtheir presencemustbedeclaredusingthecodenumberor additivename.

Theadditionof caffeineor a vitamin or mineral to anyfoodmustalso bedeclared.

Wherefromtimetotimeafoodingredientoranadditiveisreplacedwithanotherfoodoranotheradditiveserving the samefunction,bothcanbelistedprovideditisclearthata substituteoralternativeingredientoradditiveisbeing declared.Forexampletheingredientlistmaystate “safflowerorsunfloweroil”asalternativeingredients.

An ingredient,processing aidoradditiveproducedusing genetechnologymayneedthedeclaration“genetically modified” to be shown withthenameof theingredient, processingaidoradditive,forexample:soyproteinisolate (geneticallymodified).

Exceptionstothis requirementapplyto highlyrefined foods,processingaidsoradditivesfromwhichthenovel DNAorproteinhasbeenremoved.Itis notnecessaryto declareflavoursproducedusinggenetechnologyif added in aconcentrationof lessthan1g/kginthefinalfood[1.5.2].

Ifa foodoringredientin afoodhasbeenirradiatedthen thismust bedeclaredin aseparatestatementonthelabel orin theingredientlist,forexample: treatedwithionisingradiationor irradiated(nameoffood)or herbs(irradiated)[1.5.3].

To decideifaningredient,processingaidoradditivemust beidentifiedasgeneticallymodifiedorirradiated,informationmustbeobtainedfromtheingredientsupplier.

6.Date mark [1.2.5]

Generally,allpackagedfoodwitha lifeof 2yearsorless mustshowa datemark.

The“bestbefore” formofdatemarkwillbeusedon mostpackagedfoods.Afoodwitha “bestbefore” date markcanbesoldafter thatdatehasexpired,provideditis safeandsuitableforconsumption.

Examplesof where “bestbefore”wouldbeusedincludeshelf-stablefoods (suchas biscuits,confectionery,cannedfoods),frozen foods,most rawfoodsthatwillbe cookedbeforeeaten (meat,chicken,fish)orfoods thatwillnoticeablyspoil beforebecomingunsafe.

Ifa manufacturerorpackerbelievesthatforhealthand safetyreasonsa foodshouldnotbeconsumedaftera certaindate the“useby” formofdatemarkmustbeused. Foodslabelled“useby” cannotbesoldafterthedate shown.

Forbreadwithashelf lifeof lessthansevendays,the“best before” datemarkmaybereplacedbya datemarkin theform:baked for(adatenotmorethan12hoursafterbaking)orbaked on(date).

7.Directions for use and storage [1.2.6]

Anystorageconditionsnecessarytoensurethata foodwillkeepfortheperiodindicatedbythedatemark mustbeshown. Forexample: keep refrigerated or store below 5°C.

If additionaldirectionsforstorageoruseof afoodbythe consumerarenecessarytoprotecthealthandsafetythese directionsmustbeshown.Forexample:Refrigerateafteropening.

TheCodedefinesspecificstatementsthatmustappearon packagedrawbambooshootsandsweetcassava.

8.Nutrition informationpanel[1.2.8]

Generallyallpackagedfoodlabelsmustincludeanutrition informationpanel (NIP). However, if nonutritionclaimsaremadein relation to the food thensome exceptionsto the NIPrequirementapply – these being:

• foodssold at fundraisingevents
• smallpackages
• fruits,vegetables, meat,poultryorfishsold assingleingredients
• alcoholic beverages
• herbs,herbalinfusionandspices
• vinegar
• salt
• teaandcoffee
• gelatine
• definedadditivesorprocessing aids
• waterincludingmineralandspringwater
• jamsetting compound
• kits forproducingalcoholicbeverages
• kava
• sandwiches,rolls,bagelsandsimilarproducts.

The examplelabelat the end of this guideshowstheformatforastandardnutrition informationpanel.

TheFSANZ website hasanonlinetooltocalculate nutritioninformationpanelvaluesforeachstandard nutritionalproperty, see:

Wherea claim ismadefora nutritionalpropertythatis not listedin thestandardpanelthenthepanelmustalsoincludeinformationforthatclaim.

TheCodesetsoutadditionalinformationthat mustbe includedinthepanelfor claimsaboutcholesterol,fatty acids,fibre,sugarsorcarbohydrates.

9.Characterisingingredients (percentage labelling) [1.2.10]

Generally, characterisingingredientsorcomponentsmustbe declaredonthelabelas a percentageof thefinal food.

Theexamplelabelat the end of thisguideshowsa percentage declarationin theingredientlist.

An ingredientorcomponentisa characterisingingredient orcomponentif:

• it ismentionedin thenameof thefood
• it isusuallyassociatedwiththefoodnamebythe consumer
• it isemphasisedonthelabelin words,picturesor graphics.

Wherea foodmustbereconstitutedthepercentagemay bedeclaredas apercentageof thereconstitutedfood providedthatisclearlyshown.

Thepercentagemustbedeclaredas eithertheactualor theminimumpercentageprovidedthatwherethe minimum percentageisused,itisclearlyindicated.

10.Countryof origin[1.2.11]

New country of origin labelling laws are being introduced under Australian Consumer Law. The new laws will become mandatory on 1 July 2018. Until then, businesses must comply with the country of origin requirements under the Code, as detailed below, or use the new system. Information about the new country of origin labelling system is available at:

Under the Code, alabelmustincludeaseparatestatementidentifyingthe countryof originof thefood.Theformof wordsisnot definedbut“productof”,“madein”andsimilartermshave thefollowingmeaning:

• “Productof”,“Producedin”andsimilartermsmeanthat theoriginof eachsignificantingredientisfromthe countryidentifiedand all,or virtuallyall,theprocessesof productionormanufactureweredoneinthatcountry

• “Madein”,“Manufacturedin”,“Australianmade”and similartermsmeanthatthenatureofthefoodwas substantiallytransformedin thecountryclaimedto bethe originandatleast 50 per centof theproductioncostwasin that country.Ifthis rulecannotbemet thena qualifiedclaim maybemade,forexample:

• Madein Australiafromimportedingredients
• Packagedin Australiafromlocaland imported ingredients.

Otherlabelinformationincludingpicturesandgraphics mustnotmisleadorconflictwiththecountryof origin statement.

Wholeorcutfreshfruitandvegetablesina packagethat doesnotobscurethenatureorqualityof thefoodmust displayonthepackageoronsignsinconnectionwiththe food thecountryor countriesof originorthatthefoodisa mixof localand importedproduct.

11.Healthclaims (nutrition, health and relatedclaims)[1.2.7]

Healthclaims(nutrition,healthandrelatedclaims)are voluntarystatementsthatmaybe madebyfood businessesonfoodlabels(andinadvertising).

Thefollowinghealthclaimsareprohibited:

• claimsthataretherapeuticin nature
• claimsthatcomparevitaminormineralcontent
• nutritioncontent claimsthatimplyslimmingeffects
• claimsaboutkava
• claimsaboutinfantformulaproducts
• claimsaboutfoodsthat contain>1.15%alcoholby volumeotherthana nutritioncontentclaimaboutenergy orcarbohydratecontent.

Nutritioncontentclaimsareaboutthe contentofcertainnutrientsor substancesinfood, forexample“low cholesterol”or“goodsourceofdietaryfibre”.

Healthclaimsareaboutarelationshipbetweenafoodand health.

Therearetwotypesofhealthclaims:

• Generallevelhealthclaimsreferto anutrientor substancein afoodandits effect onahealthfunction, forexample“calciumisgoodforbonesand teeth”.
• Highlevelhealthclaimsrefer to a nutrientorsubstancein a foodandits effectona seriousdiseaseorbiomarkerof a seriousdisease, forexample“dietshighincalcium mayreducetheriskofosteoporosisin persons65 years andover”.

Healthclaimsareonlypermittedonfoods thatmeetthe nutrientprofilingscoringcriterion. More information, including a link to anonlinetoolto assistincalculatinga nutritionprofilingscoreof afood, is available at:

Relatedclaimsare endorsementswhicharenutrition contentorhealthclaimsmadewiththepermissionof an endorsingbody.

Conditionsformakinganyof theaboveclaimsaresetout in Standard1.2.7.You should not make any health claims without first understanding the detailed requirements of that standard.

What Must Not Appear

A labelmustnotincludewords,statements,claims, picturesorgraphicsthatrepresenta foodorits characteristicsina waythatisfalse,misleadingor deceptive.

Forexample,picturesorgraphicsona labelsuggesting howthefoodcanbepreparedmayneedtobe accompaniedbyqualifyinginformationsuchas “recipe”, “servingsuggestion”orotherstatementtoensure the consumeris notmisleadaboutthecontentsof the package.

Other Requirements

In additiontotheinformationsetoutpreviously, some foods have specific labelling requirements. For the following foods refer to the relevant standard in Chapter 2 of the Code:

• alcoholic beverages and food containing alcohol [2.7.1]
• food containing meat offal [2.2.1]
• minced meat (where reference is made to the fat content) [2.2.1]
• formed meat or fish products [2.2.1 and 2.2.3]
• fermented comminuted processed or manufactured meat products [2.2.1]
• edible oils [2.4.1]
• fruit or vegetable juice blends [2.6.1]
• packaged water [2.6.2]
• electrolyte drinks [2.6.2]
• kava [2.6.3]
• formulated caffeinated beverages [2.6.4]
• foods for infants [2.9.2]
• infant and follow-on formulas [2.9.1]
• formulated meal replacements and formulated supplementary foods [2.9.3]
• formulated supplementary sports foods [2.9.4]
• food for special medical purposes [2.9.5]
• reduced sodium salts [2.10.2].

Further Information

• See the labelling information detailed in Part 1.2 and Chapter 2 of the Food Standards Code, available at:
• View related user guides and fact sheets by following the Industry and Consumer links on the FSANZ website:
• Speak to an Environmental Health Officer at your local council.
• Visit the DHHS website:
• Phone the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or email

Guide to Labelling Packaged Food 1

The Label

Where a label includes statements, claims or other information in addition to the information required by the Code then reference must be made to the Code for the rules or prohibitions that may apply.

Legibility and Print Size

Allrequiredwords,statementsorexpressionsmust bein English.Informationin otherlanguagesis permittedifit doesnotnegateorcontradicttheinformationinEnglish.

With theexceptionof requiredwarningstatementsnospecificprintsize is defined.However,theinformationmust be legible,setoutprominentlyandbein adistinctcontrastto thebackground.

WarningstatementsrequiredbytheCodemustbein a typesizeofnotlessthan3mmor1.5mmonsmallpackages.

Guide to Labelling Packaged Food 1