Food labelling and packaging - does it really matter?

As consumers, we have a concern not only with the food that we eat, but with what the food is sold in.  Therefore it is important that the rules on the safety of materials that come into contact with food are enforced.  These materials include the containers food is sold in, the packaging, as well as the articles used to handle food.Food comes into contact with a wide variety of surfaces such as packaging, utensils in the home, conveyor belts in the manufacturing, as well as boxes and vehicles during distribution.  The sorts of materials and chemicals that your food might typically come in to contact with includes the following:

• Adhesives – sticky labels on fruit and vegetables.

• Aluminum – this is often naturally present in foods and can also be added during processing, but aluminum can also be passed in to foods from packaging

• Bisphenol-A (BPA) – a chemical present in some resins that are used to coat the insides of food cans, prevents the metal contaminating the food when heated.

• Cling Film – safe to use, when used correctly.

• Phthalates – use of this chemical is limited, mainly to the manufacture of adhesives and printing inks.

• Plastics – there are regulations on plastics, which in their finished state, are intended for the use of contact with food.

• Re-using packaging – some packaging many only be safe to use once and with only one type of food.

There are acting bodies responsible for ensuring the public is adequately protected against chemicals that might transfer into your food from these materials, causing you harm or affecting the quality of your food.Policies on food labeling are also stringent and heavily regulated.  Falsely describing, advertising or presenting food is an offence. Consumers should be able to be confident with their choice of foods, be able to make comparisons and buy according to their particular requirements and be confident that what is written is correct.  As consumers we have a right to expect that the food we buy matches what is written on the label and that we get what we pay for.Food authenticity is all about whether a food matches its description and in some cases; the names of different types of food are protected by law and must comply with certain compositional regulations.  If food is incorrectly described, not only is the consumer being deceived, but it can also create unfair competition with the honest manufacturer or trader.With a correct and efficient Food Safety Management System, businesses can be sure of compliance to the latest food packaging and labelling regulations as well as distribution and handling policies.