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Food Labeling: History
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Contributor: Luyun Yu

Food labeling refers to the written, printed, or graphic information displayed on, attached to, or accompanying a food product to communicate its identity, composition, characteristics, and conditions of use to consumers [1][2]. It includes information such as product name, ingredients, allergens, net quantity, nutritional content, date marking, country of origin, storage requirements, and preparation instructions, as well as voluntary nutrition, health, quality, and sustainability claims [1][2]. Food labeling serves several functions: supporting informed purchasing and dietary decisions, communicating food safety risks, enabling product identification and traceability, and protecting consumers against misleading representations [1][3]. In public health, nutrition labeling, particularly front-of-pack systems, is used to help consumers interpret nutritional information and compare products. Its effectiveness depends on accuracy, legibility, comprehensibility, and consumers’ ability to understand and use the information provided.

  • nutrition labeling
  • consumer behavior
  • food safety
  • front-of-pack labeling
  • public health

References

  1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Food Labelling. https://www.fao.org/food-labelling/en
  2. Codex Alimentarius Commission. General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CXS 1-1985); FAO and WHO: Rome, 1985, revised 2018.
  3. Bridget Kelly; See Hoe Ng; Amy Carrad; Simone Pettigrew; The Potential Effectiveness of Nutrient Declarations and Nutrition and Health Claims for Improving Population Diets. Annu. Rev. Nutr. 2024, 44, 441-470, 10.1146/annurev-nutr-011224-054913.
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