The Ins and Outs of Food Labeling (Part One)

1
The Ins and Outs of Food Labeling (Part One)
2007

• This module is adapted from
• the FDA Food Labeling Guide, www.cfsan.fda.gov/dm
  s/flg-toc.html

Module designed by Tera Sandvik, LRD, Program
Coordinator Julie Garden-Robinson, PhD, LRD,
Food and Nutrition Specialist and Tami Totland,
RD, Program Assistant
2
The following tips will help you navigate through
each module.

• Click the left mouse button or the down arrow to
  continue on to the next bullet or slide.
• Before you begin, youll take a presurvey.
• The presurvey will open in a new window.
• When you are finished with the presurvey close
  the window to return to the module.
• A symbolizes a question slide. Youll need
  to click your mouse once to see the answer.

3

• A means youll need to go to the site listed
  to answer the question.
• After visiting the site, close the Internet
  browser to return to the module.
• Click your mouse once to see the answer.
• When you are finished with the module, you will
  take a post-survey.
• The post-survey will open in a new window.
• When you are finished with the post-survey, close
  the window to return to the module.

4
Overview

• This module provides basic information about food
  labeling. When you have completed this module,
  you should have a general knowledge of the basic
  rules and regulations associated with food
  labeling.

5
Presurvey

• Before we begin, lets take a presurvey to see
  how much you already know.
• Click here to begin.

6
History of Food Labels

• In November 1990, the Nutrition Labeling and
  Education Act (NLEA) became federal law.
• NLEA
• Requires most foods to bear nutrition labeling
• Assists the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
  assuring all foods sold in the U.S. are safe,
  wholesome and correctly labeled
• Regulates the labeling of nutrient content and
  health claims

7
History Cont.

• In 1993, the FDA and Food Safety and Inspection
  Service (FSIS) published detailed regulations
  defining how to comply with NLEA labeling
  requirements.
• NOTE
• Changes and amendments are being made to these
  regulations continuously.
• The food industry is responsible for remaining
  current with the legal requirements for food
  labeling.

8
History Cont.

• The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) contains
  all final regulations issued by the FDA and USDA
  by numbered Titles.
• Title 9 contains USDA regulations on animals and
  animal products.
• Title 21 covers FDA regulations on food and
  drugs.
• The CFR can be accessed via the Internet at
  http//www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_09/21cf
  r101_09.html

9
The function(s) of NLEA include

1. Requiring most foods to bear nutrition labels.
2. Assisting the FDA in assuring foods are safe,
   wholesome and correctly labeled prior to
   consumption.
3. Regulating nutrient content and health claims on
   food products.
4. All of the above

Click to see the answer.
If you chose D, you were correct. NLEA provides
all of the services listed above.
10
Where can the latest FDA and USDA regulations be
found?

1. The Department of Education
2. The Department of Commerce
3. The Code of Federal Regulations
4. None of the above

Click to see the answer.
If you chose C, you were correct.
11

• Does your business qualify for an exemption?

12
Exemptions

• Certain small businesses and businesses meeting
  other specific criteria are excused from
  nutrition labeling.
• These exemptions apply only if no nutrition claim
  or information is on the product packaging or in
  advertising.

13
Foods Under FDA Regulations

• The FDA handles all domestic and imported food
  sold in interstate commerce, including shell
  eggs, but excluding meat and poultry.
• The FDA also oversees bottled water and wine
  beverages with less than 7 percent alcohol.

14
FDA Small-business Exemptions

• If you qualify for the FDA small-business
  exemption and plan to utilize the small-business
  exemption, your business must file an annual
  notice with the FDA.
• If your product or business surpasses the
  following criteria, the exemption will expire
  within 18 months from that date.

15
If you answer yes to one of the following you
qualify for the FDA small-business exemption.

• In my most recent two-year average, my annual
  gross sales to consumers equals less than
  500,000 or my annual gross sales of only food to
  consumers equals less than 50,000.

16
FDA Small-business Exemption Cont.

• My business employs fewer than 100 employees
  (based on the average FTEs) and has product
  sales of less than 100,000 units for each
  product.
• A product is defined as a food with the same
  brand name and statement of identity.
• A unit is defined as the package or form in
  which the product is offered for sale.

17
Other FDA Exemptions
Julies Coffee

• If you answer TRUE to any of the following
  statements for your business, you may be excused
  from nutrition labeling.
• I manufacture a food product that contains
  insignificant amounts of all mandatory nutrients
  (e.g. plain coffee or tea, some spices).
• My business manufactures restaurant and food
  service foods sold for immediate consumption.
• The food my business produces is ready to eat,
  prepared largely on-site and is not sold outside
  of that location (e.g. deli or bakery foods).
• My business manufactures foods that will be
  further processed, packed or labeled at another
  location.

18
FDA Exemptions Cont.

• My food product is packaged with less than 12
  spare inches of labeling area and no nutrition
  claim is made on the product. On the packaging, I
  have provided an address or telephone number
  where consumers can obtain nutrition information.
  
• My business manufactures properly labeled
  multiunit containers, which consist of unlabeled
  individual units. The individual units indicate
  they are not labeled for retail sale.
• My business sells foods from bulk containers.
  The bulk containers are properly labeled.

19
FDA Exemptions Cont.

• My business manufactures or sells
  single-ingredient fish or game meats.
• I produce infant foods, formula or medical foods
  (subject to separate regulations).
• The food(s) my business sells are among the 20
  most commonly consumed raw fruits, vegetables and
  fish (subject to voluntary regulations).

20
USDA Regulations

• The USDA oversees all domestic and imported meat
  and poultry and related products (e.g. meat or
  poultry-containing stews, pizzas and frozen
  foods). Also under USDA control are processed egg
  products.
• If you answer yes to the following statements,
  you are excused from labeling requirements.

21
USDA Exemptions

• The food(s) my business produces are raw,
  single-ingredient meat and poultry products (e.g.
  ground beef, chicken breasts), which are subject
  to voluntary regulations.
• My business employs fewer than 500 employees and
  has sales of less than 100,000 pounds annually,
  based on the most recent two-year average.

22
USDA Exemptions Cont.

• My food product is packaged with less than 12
  spare inches of labeling area and no nutrition
  claim is made on the product.
• On the packaging, I have provided an address or
  telephone number where consumers can obtain
  nutrition information.
• My business prepares, serves or sells food
  products that are
• ready to eat and are packaged or portioned at
  retail
• multiingredient products processed at a retail
  store
• restaurant or food service foods

23
USDA Exemptions Cont.

• My business produces a product that weighs less
  than ½ ounce net weight when packaged.
• My business manufactures a food product that is
  not for sale to consumers since further
  processing or export is intended.

24

• If you voluntarily provide a nutrition
• label or health claim, the exemptions
• listed above no longer will apply and
• you will need to meet all labeling
• requirements.

25
A business qualifies for a small-businessnutriti
on labeling exemption from FDA when

1. Annual gross sales to consumers is less than
   750,000
2. The business employs fewer than 100 workers
3. Product sales equal less than 100,000 units per
   product
4. B and C

Click to see the answer.
If you chose D, you are correct.
26
What must be provided on the label of a food
product with less than 12 square inches of
labeling area?

1. Address
2. Fax number
3. Web site address
4. No information is required
5. All are required

Click to see the answer.
If you chose A, you were correct.
27
True or False A business that meets the
criteria for an FDA or USDA exemption, but
voluntarily decides to print a nutrition claim of
the product, still is eligible to claim the
exemption.
Click to see the answer.
The correct answer is False.
28
General Labeling Requirements

• Five mandatory components must be on a food
  label
• Product Identity
• Net Weight
• Nutrition Facts (unless exempted)
• Ingredient Statement
• Place of Business
• This information may be located on the Principle
  Display Panel (PDP) or Information Panel.
• The above information must be printed in English.

29
Principle Display Panel (PDP)

• The PDP is the surface area you are able to see
  while walking down the grocery store aisle.
• The height times the width of the PDP determines
  the type size requirement of the food label.
• On cylindrical containers, the surface area of
  the PDP can be calculated by multiplying 40
  percent of the height by the circumference.
• The PDP must include two pieces of information
• Statement of identity, or name of food
• Net quantity statement, or amount of product

30
PDP Display
31
How can consumers identify the PDP surface of a
food package?

1. The PDP surface is adjacent to the front of the
   package.
2. The PDP surface is the portion of the package
   most likely to be seen at the point of purchase.
3. The PDP surface may be located at the bottom or
   top of a food package.
4. None of the above.

Click to see the answer.
If you chose B, you were correct.
32
What two pieces of information mustthe PDP
include?

1. Product identity and Nutrition Facts
2. Net weight and ingredient statement
3. Nutrition Facts and place of business
4. Product identity and net weight

Click to see the answer.
If you chose D. you were correct.
33
Statement of Identity

• The statement of identity is the common or usual
  name of the product contained in the package
  (e.g. soup or cereal).
• If no common name is given, then a descriptive
  name may be used in place (e.g. vanilla wafers).
  
• The product identity is required in the middle
  portion of the PDPs front label.
• It should be dominant and stand out from all
  other print and pictures on the package.

34
Statement of Identity Example
35
What would the statement of identity be on a
can of Superstars chicken noodle soup?

1. Soup
2. Superstars
3. Chicken noodle
4. Both A and B

Click to see the answer.
If you chose A, you were correct.
36
Net Quantity Statement

• This statement provides the amount of food in the
  container or package.
• Located in the lower 30 percent of the PDP
• Often at the lower right corner of the front
  label
• Only the quantity of food in the package is
  stated in the net quantity statement
• The weight of the container, wrapping and packing
  material may not be included.
• The net weight or volume must be listed in both
  the U.S. scale and metric scale.

37
Scales

• U.S. Scale
• Ounces
• Pounds
• Fluid ounces
• Metric Scale
• Grams
• Kilograms
• Milliliters
• Liters
• For example, NET WT 6 oz. (170g) would be an
  appropriate net quantity statement. The required
  type size will vary by the products surface
  area, with a minimum height of 1/16 inch required.

38
Net Quantity Statement Example
39
Which of these is a correct version of a net
quantity statement?

1. NET WT 1 lb 8 oz (680g)
2. 500 ml (1 pt 0.9 fl oz)
3. NET WT 2 Large oz (5g)
4. 1 gallon (3.79L)

Click to see the answer.
If you chose A, you were correct.
40
Information Panel

• The information panel is the surface area
  normally to the right of the PDP.
• This would be the label on the right side of the
  box.
• The information label on a jar would be directly
  to the right of the PDP.
• On the information panel, we find
• Nutrition Facts
• Ingredient statement
• Place of business

41
Information Panel
42
Post-survey

• Lets see what youve learned.
• Click here to begin the post-survey.