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Deciphering the information

Here’s an example of an everyday food product – a strawberry flavour yoghurt. Let’s see what the label does – and doesn’t – reveal.  

  • Datemark. Use by dates are for highly perishable foods and it is illegal for shops to sell the food after this date. Best before dates are used on less perishable foods. Food eaten after the date may not be dangerous but will be past its best. Both assume food has been correctly stored. Sell by or display-until dates are used by shops although it is not an offence to sell food past its display-until date.

  • The manufacturer’s name and address must be provided so you can contact the company if you wish.

  • 'Low fat' should mean less than 3% fat. Check out the nutrition information panel to see exactly how much fat it does contain. Watch out for the selective use of healthy sounding claims. This ‘typical’ yoghurt is also high in sugar but this is not declared on the front of the product!

  • The name shouldn't mislead. In this case, the strawberry 'flavour' need not come from real strawberries, just from chemical flavours. A 'strawberry yoghurt' or 'strawberry flavoured yoghurt' must get its flavour mainly or completely from real strawberries.

  • The weight of the product. The ‘e’ symbol means that an average weight must be accurate, but the weight of each pack may vary slightly.

  • May contain other additives in this case, thickeners, flavours and so-called 'natural' colours.

  • Ingredients need to be listed in descending order of weight, including additives. This product contains two types of sugar, two types of thickeners to make it a creamier texture, unspecified flavourings and two so-called 'natural colours'.

  • Giving nutritional information is not compulsory unless a claim is made such as ‘low fat’. If companies choose to use the most basic type of food label - which states only the overall amount of energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate in the food - it can be impossible to tell how much sugar, salt, fibre or saturated fat a product contains.

  • Amounts of nutrients need to be given per 100g or 100ml. This makes it easier to compare products. Sometimes companies also give the information 'per serving'.

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