Food labeling regulations

The packaging and labeling of food is subject to regulation in most jurisdictions, both to prevent false advertising and to promote food safety. Issues include the following:

Ingredients list
- Food additives
- Nutrition facts label
- Taboo food:
  - Vegetarianism or veganism
  - Religious certification:
    - Kashrut
    - Islamic dietary laws
Safety information:
- Refrigerate after opening
- Shelf life dates ("Use by" and "Best before")
- Food allergy and food intolerance risks
Preparation instructions:
- Shake well
Geographical indication
- Country of origin
- Protected Geographical Status (European Union)
  - Appellation d'origine contrôlée (France)
Labeling of genetically modified food

Regulations by jurisdiction:

Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (US)
- Standards of identity for food
United Kingdom food labeling regulations

Food safety

Adulterants / food contaminants	3-MCPD Aldicarb Cyanide Formaldehyde Lead poisoning Melamine Mercury in fish Sudan I

Flavorings	Monosodium glutamate (MSG) Salt Sugar

Microorganisms	Botulism Campylobacter jejuni Clostridium perfringens Escherichia coli O104:H4 Escherichia coli O157:H7 Hepatitis A Hepatitis E Listeria Norovirus Rotavirus Salmonella

Parasitic infections through food	Anisakiasis Amoebiasis/Amoebic dysentery Cryptosporidiosis Cyclosporiasis Diphyllobothriasis Enterobiasis Fascioliasis Fasciolopsiasis Giardiasis Gnathostomiasis Paragonimiasis Trichinosis Trichuriasis

Pesticides	Chlorpyrifos DDT Lindane Malathion Methamidophos

Preservatives	Benzoic acid Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) Sodium benzoate

Sugar substitutes	Acesulfame potassium Aspartame High fructose corn syrup health effects public relations Saccharin Sodium cyclamate Sorbitol Sucralose

Toxins / poisons	Aflatoxin Arsenic contamination of groundwater Benzene in soft drinks Bisphenol A Mycotoxins Shellfish poisoning

Food contamination incidents	1858 Bradford sweets poisoning 1989 Chilean grape scare 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak 1996 Odwalla E. coli outbreak 2005 Indonesia food scare 2006 North American E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks 2007 Vietnam food scare 2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak 2008 Chinese milk scandal 2008 Irish pork crisis 2008 United States salmonellosis outbreak 2011 Germany E. coli O104:H4 outbreak 2011 Taiwan food scandal 2011 United States listeriosis outbreak Food safety incidents in China Foodborne illness outbreaks death toll United States ICA meat repackaging controversy Minamata disease StarLink corn recall Toxic oil syndrome 2013 meat adulteration scandal 2013 aflatoxin contamination 2013 Taiwan food scandal 2014 Taiwan food scandal

Regulatory / watchdog	Acceptable daily intake E number Food labeling regulations Food libel laws International Food Safety Network Quality Assurance International

Food processing	4-Hydroxynonenal Acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein Acrylamide Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease Food additives Food irradiation Heterocyclic amines Modified starch Nitrosamines Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon Shortening Trans fat

Related topics	Curing (food preservation) Food marketing Food politics Food preservation Food quality Genetically modified food Intestinal parasites Taboo food and drink

Labeling

Label Construction	Adhesive Die cutting (web) Hologram In-mould labelling Label Paper Perforation Pressure sensitive adhesive Plastic Printing Release liner Security printing Smart label Sticker

Content	Advertising Barcode Country of origin Cigarette warning label Ecolabel EU energy label Food labeling regulations Mandatory labelling Nameplate Nutrition facts label Radio frequency identification United Kingdom food labeling regulations UPC Warning label Wine label

Use	Advertising Authentication Automatic identification and data capture Label dispenser Label printer Packaging and labeling Track & Trace