New labelling regulations have been passed and South African manufacturers and retailers have until March 2011 to comply. Here’s what you need to know.
In the past, you might have seen ads in print or on TV where an overweight person claims to have lost 40kg or more in a short space of time, merely by drinking a weight-loss milkshake. Perhaps you even bought the product, hoping to lose a few kilos? Thanks to the government’s new food labelling regulations, consumers won’t be seeing this kind of misleading advertising anymore.
What does this mean for You?
The government is hoping that by giving you additional information, and controlling the way companies advertise, you’ll find it easier to make healthier choices.
In the past, marketers were able to advertise a dairy smoothie, for example, as 98 percent fat-free. This is no longer allowed, explains dietician and author, Gabi Steenkamp. “You have to say it contains two percent fat.”
Probably the most important changes for consumers, says Steenkamp, are labelling rules dealing with ‘nutritional values’ which have been confusing in the past. No manufacturer will be allowed to make nutritional claims about food products unless:
- The food has been analysed in an accredited laboratory.
- The nutrient content is greater than a specified amount per serving.
“Look at the ingredient list,” says Steenkamp. “The heaviest mass should be listed first. If you buy cherry ice cream, and cherries are listed right at the bottom, you should realise that that there are hardly any cherries in it,” she explains.
Is that Chicken Soup Still Okay?
- The new regulations say that the ‘use by’ date will have to appear on perishable pre-packaged foodstuffs and these may not be sold after the expiry date.
- The ‘best before’ date will have to appear on non-perishables but these may still be sold after the expiry date.
These regulations should make it a lot easier for allergy sufferers or people with food sensitivities to select ‘safe’ foods
What’s the Difference between a Preservative and an Additive?
Preservatives: As the name suggests, preservatives aim to preserve food – to discourage spoilage and fungal growth. These are synthetic substances, made with chemicals – unless specifically stated as being natural, like vinegar and salt.
Additives: These are added to food to increase shelf life by retaining or improving flavour and appearance. Additives you’ve probably heard of include MSG, anti-caking agents, sulphur dioxide, added flavourants and sweeteners or thickeners. These modern additives are synthetic.
What about Allergens and Additives?
- Common allergens such as gluten, milk, eggs, soy, peanuts and tree nuts, shellfish or crustaceans, or significant cereals (wheat, rye, barley and oats), must be indicated on food labels.
- Additives such as tartrazine, MSG, sulphur dioxide and related compounds also have to be declared on labels.
What’s in a Name?
- Food label terms that have been banished include:
- ‘rich in’,
- ‘excellent source of’,
- ‘good source of’,
- ‘enriched X’,
- ‘with added Y’, or
- ‘contains Z’.
- Terms that are allowed are:
- ‘low’,
- ‘free’ or ‘virtually free’,
- ‘high’ or ‘very high’.
- A number of foods previously marketed as ‘low-energy’, ‘energy-reduced’ or ‘energy-rich’ will either have to change their formulas or their ads.
- A product can only be labelled ‘low-fat’ if it contains not more than 3g of total fat per 100g (solids) or 1.5g of total fat per 100ml (liquids).
No Longer Allowed
- No food may be labelled or advertised to create the impression that it is supported or endorsed by any health practitioner – including dentists, doctors and dieticians.
- Labelling and advertising may not imply that a particular food provides complete or balanced nutrition.
- Marketers may not claim that a food can ‘cure’ any medical affliction
No More Negative Claims
Before, says Steenkamp, manufacturers could market their brand of olive oil, for example, as ‘cholesterol-free’. The actual truth here is that all plant oils are cholesterol-free.
From now on, the manufacturer of the olive oil will be allowed to say, ‘A naturally cholesterol-free food’ to indicate that all olive and other plant oils are free of cholesterol. Products that have been advertised as having ‘no sugar added’ because no sucrose or table sugar has been included, but that do contain fruit juice or concentrates or fructose or honey, will no longer be able to claim that they are ‘sugar-free’.
Are preservatives and additives safe for children?
Irene Labuschagne, principal dietician at the Nutritional Information Centre at the University of Stellenbosch, says that some common colourants and preservatives have been found to have a negative effect on children’s behaviour, in particular, ADHD children – those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
- Nitrates, for example, commonly found in processed meats, have not only been linked to ADHD in kids, they could also cause cancer..
- Sodium benzoate, commonly used as a preservative in canned fizzy drinks, has been linked to asthma, amongst other problems.
… food additives are investigated and regulated to ensure that they’re safe.
“My approach is moderation,” says Labuschagne. “A 100% organic diet is not feasible for most families, but a healthy, varied diet with a reduction in sweets, snacks, sugar, sweetened drinks and pre-packaged convenience foods is a step in the right direction. Being a food ‘Nazi’ is also not going to win your children’s support – they’ll simply eat junk food elsewhere, on the sly.”
“It’s important to realise that food additives are investigated and regulated to ensure that they’re safe, and that food products containing additives are labelled by law so that, in theory at least, the consumer can avoid them in case they do experience any adverse effects.”
The bottom line? It’s up to you to exercise your freedom of choice. If you’ve read unsettling research results, or your asthmatic child has a bad reaction to processed meats or fizzy drinks, even though the profit-driven industry says those products are safe to eat, simply don’t buy them, and let the manufacturer know why.
Text by Pamela Kimberg. Photos: Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images. This article is featured courtesy of the July 2010 edition of your family magazine.
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