Food Labeling as an Important Set in Food Packaging - Term Paper Example

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (FOOD LABELING) ON PRODUCTS Table of Contents Introduction 2 NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (FOOD LABELING) ON PRODUCTS 12 2 Benefits of food labeling 2 Purposes of food labeling 8 Methods of Nutritional Analysis and Nutritional Labeling 10 References 11 Introduction Food labeling is a means through which people attain information on the food products they buy. Food labels are an important source of information that inform people and enhance them in making decisions on which food products to purchase. Food labeling is a significant procedure in food processing and packaging chain and should not be neglected by consumers. The label acts as the initial contact point between the producer and a consumer. Consumers use food labels to identify different products and decide which food product to buy. The food label thus is a crucial marketing tool for a food product. Benefits of food labeling The relationship between health and diet is important. People’s eating habits can hurt of help their overall well-being and health. A food label helps individuals to select foods for healthful diets. Blanchfield (2000) argue that through utilizing a food label, people are able to make comparisons of nutrition content of identical foods, see the way foods fit into their overall diets and have an understanding of relationships amid diseases and certain nutrients. The nutrition information presented on a food is a significant health tool of promoting a balanced diet and enhancing civic health. Source: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), (2009). The nutrition information on food labels helps consumers to have a better understanding of the nutritional value of certain foods. It enhances consumers to make comparisons of the nutritional value of identical food products and make food choices that are healthy based upon the pertinent nutrition information. For people on special diets such as diabetic individuals or individuals with high blood lipid, the nutrition information present on the food labels enhances then to choose appropriate food and assist in managing their conditions (Blanchfield, 2000). Sample of Light Cheese Pack According to McCarthy, (2008), the front of a food package is intended at getting the attention of the consumer. Food manufactures utilize diverse packaging methods to entice consumers to purchase their products. For numerous years, certain nutrient claims and descriptors appeared on good packages with loosely defined kind of standardization. However in modern days, descriptors like light or low fat, or higher fiber, along with certain nutrient claims, possess standard requirements and definitions that buyers can utilize as quick guides in making smart choices. Through understanding the meaning of nutrient claims and descriptors mean, an individual can efficiently and effectively choose foods and select between products. Shike, M., & Shils, M., (2006) note that health claims explains the relationship amid a food or a nutrient and the hazard of an illness. Products that make health claims are supposed to have a defined quantity of the nutrient that have a direct linkage to a health connected situation. For instance, in order to make a claim on the relationship between hypertension and sodium, the amount of sodium the food should have is 140mg or less per serving. If a package asserts that the food product might lessen the hazard of hypertension, it is supposed to be a product with low sodium since low sodium is also identified as 140mg of sodium per serving (Shike, & Shils, 2006). According to Schiff and Alters, (2009), nutrition labels are usually displayed as a grid or panel on the side or back of packaging. For instance, the table below illustrates the nutrition label on a ready food. This form of a label often entails information on protein, calories or energy, fat and carbohydrates. It might also offer further information on sugars, saturated fat, salt, fiber and sodium. The entire nutrition information is offered per 100g and at times per food portion. Nuitrition Typical Values (As consumed) Energy Per 100g 541KJ/128Kcal Per Pack 2011KJ/476Kcal % GDA 24% Your GDA 2000Kcal Protein 4.9g 18.2 g Carbohydrates 20.8 g 77.4 g Of which Sugars 1.5 g 5.6 g 6.2 % 90 g Fat 2.8 g 10.4 g 15% 70 g Of which saturates 2.3 g 8.6 g 43% 20 g Fibre 2.1 g 7.8 g Sodium 0.1 g 0.5 g 6 g Salt Equivalent 0.3 g 1.3 g 22% Recommended guidelines Daily Amount for Adult (GDA) The nutrition facts part on back of a food label permits a person to compare between nutrient contents of identical foods and establish the way foods fit into his or her overall diet. According to (FSANZ, 2009), a nutrition panel offers information on dietary fiber, cholesterol, saturated fat as well as other nutrients which are of primary health concern. The constituents of nutrition panel entail voluntary and mandatory dietary information. The compulsory or mandatory constituents are listed on nutrient facts panel as shown in the table below. In addition, a column of percentage daily value helps consumers to establish how every nutrient fits into their average every day diet. The daily value is utilized in referring to two different forms of reference values (FSANZ, 2009). Voluntary dietary constituents on a food label entails calories from polysturated fat, monosturated fat, saturated fat, soluble fiber, potassium, sugar alcohol, insoluble fiber, other carbohydrates as well as other essential minerals and vitamins. Majority of pre-packed foods have a listing of ingredients on packaging or on a fastened label. Insel et al, (2009) state that his ingredients list is useful in that it can help people to establish the way health the food product is. The ingredients are recorded in order of weight, with the major ingredients in packaged food usually coming first. For instance, in Kripsy Krunchies, the ingredients have been listed at bottom of the food label with the predominant ingredient being corn, followed by oil and then cheese. This implies that if the initial few ingredients are ingredients high in fat, like oil, cream or fat, then the particular food is high in fat. Ingredients from every food should be listed on a food label, entailing standardized foods. Every package identifies the amount of serving. One package of Kripsy Krunchies has one serving and the nutritional information offered on the label is based upon a singe serving of the product.. Certain ingredient information, like protein source is also included and this allows individuals to avoid food substances which make them to develop allergic reactions. In Krispy Krunchies, the source of protein is cow’s milk. A food label of Kripsy Krunchies Nutrition labels also offer information on the way a certain drink or food fits into an individual daily diet. Guideline daily amount (GDA) is guidelines on the estimated quantity of certain calories and nutrients needed for healthy diets. Insel et al ( 2009) argue that since individual needs for nutrients and calories are diverse for all individuals, guideline daily amounts aren’t aimed as targets, but are aimed at offering a helpful indication of the way a certain nutrient or quantity of calories fits into an individuals ever day diet. Information of guidelines daily amounts and how a nutrient contributes towards guideline daily amounts is usually found on side or back of packaging. The percentage guidelines daily amounts can at times be repeated at front of a pack. For instance , the label below, display that the pack will offer a consumer with 1.5g of salt which corresponds to 25 percent of a person’s guideline daily amount for the salt. This implies that the pack have approximately a quarter of GDA of salt for an adult. Purposes of food labeling Nutrition labels are aimed at helping consumers select more healthful food products. Offering nutrition information raises incentives for the producers to develop healthful foods and helps consumers in selecting healthier diets, which in turn results to reduced costs from diet related diseases. Nayga (2000) note that unlike nutrition standards which constrain choice, nutrition labels doesn’t constrain choice and permits people to balance their individual nutritional requirements and preferences. Nutritional labels simplify the entire healthy eating concept. It assists consumers to track the quantity of carbohydrates, proteins, fat, sugar fiber, minerals and vitamins and also permits them to make informed judgments of the overall value of a products. Thus, the nutritional panel acts as a guide to a healthier life and better diet. People can utilize a nutritional label in making food choices in accordance to dietary guidelines created by health specialists who highlight the significance of a properly balanced diet (Nayga, 2000). (McCarthy, 2008). According to Caswell and Padberg, (1999), the nutrition information found on food items permits people to eat a wide range of food products, maintain healthy weights , select a diet with a reduced amount of cholesterol and saturated fat, and select a diet that have a get amount of fruits, grain products and vegetables. This information also enables consumers to utilize sugars, sodium and salt in moderation. People can utilize health claims presented on food packages to recognize foods with particular nutritional qualities linked to hazard factors and well-being. Nutritional labeling greatly affects the purchase behavior of consumers. The provision of nutrition information might allow people to change consumption away unhealthy products towards healthy products. Improvements in the nutrition intake of a populace are dependent on the correlation of supply and demand forces within food markets. In regard to demand, the interest of consumers to buy diets ad products with good nutritional profiles directly affects nutrient intake (Caswell, & Padberg, 1999). The ability of consumers to select their diets partly depends upon the quality and quantity of available information via a wide range of sources, entailing food labels from a nutrition panel. Kotler, (2004), argues that if food products lack a label, people might not have a through knowledge of quantity of nutrients they contain. Thus, consumers are forced to create their individual beliefs on nutrient content based upon public health messages, advertising and their universal understanding of food science. Nevertheless, this ultimately results to overestimates or underestimates of the amount of certain nutrients in food items that are unlabelled. Inherent in selecting a food product is a probable trade off amid taste and heath outcomes of nutrients. For instance foods that have a pleasant taste might have nutrients like cholesterol or fat which when taken, have negative trivial utilities since people believe that they can be able to improve their wellbeing through lessening their cholesterol and fat intake. Methods of Nutritional Analysis and Nutritional Labeling Nutritional analysis ensures precise nutritional analysis as well as food nutrition fact labels for food products. Sullivan Carpenter (2000) note that the two commonly used methods of establishing nutritional content of food products are database analysis and laboratory based nutritional analysis. In nutritional based analysis, the formula of the particular food product, together with detailed information on every ingredient as well as product processing information is submitted in form of writing to an analyzing laboratory. Normally, a physical sample is not required and the method is utilized for foods with common ingredients and foods with minimal cooking, processing, drying or baking. The method isn’t commended for nutrients validation is required or for foods that are extensively processed. The Laboratory based nutritional analysis technique needs a physical sample of a food product to be submitted to a laboratory. In the laboratory, the sample is stepped and analyzed utilizing several scientific techniques and instruments to provide data that is unique and specific to the food product. Conclusion Food labeling is an important set in food packaging that provides consumers with information on the food products they buy and consume. A food label provides nutrition information of food products and helps people to select foods that contain the correct amount of nutrients. Through using a using food labels, consumers are able to compare the nutrition content of identical food items and establish which product fit into their overall diet. In addition, food labels contain nutrient claims and descriptors and through understanding their meanings, consumers can effectively select between food products and understand how a nutrient or food is a risk to health. References Nayga, M., (2000). Determinants of consumers’ use of nutritional information on food packages. Journal of Agriculture and Applied Economic, 28(2), 303-312. Sullivan, D., & Carpenter, D., (2000). Methods of analysis for nutrition labeling. Oxford: Macmillan. Caswell, A., & Padberg, D., (1999). Toward a more comprehensive theory of food labels. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 74, 460-468. Kotler, P., (2004). Marketing management. Boston: Irwin, McGraw-Hill. Blanchfield, J., (2000). Food labeling . New York: Woodhead Publishing. McCarthy, R., (2008). Food labels: Using nutrition information to create a healthy diet. London: The Rosen Publishing Group Shike, M., & Shils, M., (2006). Modern nutrition in health and diseases. New York: Wolters Kluwer Health Insel, P., Turner, E., & Ross, D., (2009). Discovering nutrition. Boston: Jones & Bartlett Learning Schiff, W., & Alters, S., (2009). Essential concepts for healthy living. London: Kogan Page. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), (2009). Food labels what do they mean? Retrieved on January 13, 2012 from http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodmatters/foodlabelling/ Read More