The

packaging and labeling Packaging is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Packaging also refers to the process of designing, evaluating, and producing packages. Packaging can be described as a ...

of food is subject to regulation in most regions/jurisdictions, both to prevent false advertising and to promote food safety.

Regulations by type

Multi-faceted

* Codex Alimentarius (international voluntary standard)

Ingredients and basic nutrition

* Calorie count laws (restaurants) *

Ingredients An ingredient is a substance that forms part of a mixture (in a general sense). For example, in cooking, recipes specify which ingredients are used to prepare a specific dish. Many commercial products contain secret ingredients that are purport ...

list * Nutrition facts label * ame & address of manufacturer* ate:

Nutritional rating systems

Nutri-Score The Nutri-Score, also known as the 5-Colour Nutrition label or 5-CNL, is a five-colour nutrition label and nutritional rating system, and an attempt to simplify the nutritional rating system demonstrating the overall nutritional value of food pro ...

* Traffic light rating system *

Health Star Rating System The Health Star Rating System (HSR) is an Australian and New Zealand Government initiative that assigns health ratings to packaged foods and beverages. The purpose for the Health Star Rating is to provide a visual comparison of like for like prod ...

Veracity

* False advertising * Health claims

Food-handling materials

Food safe symbol Food contact materials are materials that are intended to be in contact with food. These can be things that are quite obvious like a glass or a can for soft drinks as well as machinery in a food factory or a coffee machine. Food contact mate ...

Specific foods

Olive oil regulation and adulteration Olive oil regulation and adulteration are complex issues overseen and studied by various governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, and private researchers across the world. Background The International Olive Council (IOC) is an interg ...

Food grading Food grading involves the inspection, assessment and sorting of various foods regarding quality, freshness, legal conformity and market value.Saravacos, George D.; Maroulis, Zacharias B. (2011''Food Process Engineering Operations'' CRC Press. p ...

labels *

Instructions for Use Instruction or instructions may refer to: Computing * Instruction, one operation of a processor within a computer architecture instruction set * Computer program, a collection of instructions Music * Instruction (band), a 2002 rock band from Ne ...

* Exp: Date

Vegan

* "Certified Vegan" by

Vegan Awareness Foundation The Vegan Awareness Foundation, also known as Vegan Action, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Virginia, United States, and founded in 1995. Its declared goal is to help animals, the environment, and human health by educating the public abo ...

trademark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from othe ...

for vegan companies and organizations * "PETA-Approved Vegan" by PETA for vegan products (clothing and accessory companies),

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, available worldwide * "Sunflower symbol" by the

Vegan Society Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. D ...

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

for vegan food, available worldwide * "V-Label" by the

European Vegetarian Union The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) is a non-profit, non-governmental umbrella organisation for vegetarian societies and groups in Europe. The union works in the areas of vegetarianism, nutrition, health, consumer protection, the campaign for ...

, Swiss

for vegan items (specified by product), available worldwide *"Biocyclic Vegan" by BNS Biocyclic Network Services Ltd., Cyprus, for vegan organic production (e.g. vegetable production without

manure Manure is organic matter that is used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Most manure consists of animal feces; other sources include compost and green manure. Manures contribute to the Soil fertility, fertility of soil by adding organic ma ...

)

Vegetarian

* "The green dot symbol" (

Vegetarian mark Multiple symbols have been developed to represent vegetarianism and veganism. Several are used on food packaging, including voluntary labels such as the Vegan Society trademark or the V-Label (with support of the European Vegetarian Union) as ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

n requirement for food, available worldwide * "V-Label" by the

, Swiss

for vegan and vegetarian items (specified by product), available worldwide * "Vegetarian Society Approved" by the

Vegetarian Society The Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom is a British registered charity which was established on 30 September 1847 to promote vegetarianism. History In the 19th century a number of groups in Britain actively promoted and followed meat ...

, available worldwide

Farming practices

Free range Free range denotes a method of farming husbandry where the animals, for at least part of the day, can roam freely outdoors, rather than being confined in an enclosure for 24 hours each day. On many farms, the outdoors ranging area is fenced, ...

Grass fed beef There are different systems of feeding cattle in animal husbandry. For pastured animals, grass is usually the forage that composes the majority of their diet. Cattle reared in feedlots are fed hay supplemented with grain, soy and other ingredi ...

* Organic certification *

Sustainable agriculture Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways meeting society's present food and textile needs, without compromising the ability for current or future generations to meet their needs. It can be based on an understanding of ecosystem ser ...

UTZ Certified UTZ, formerly called UTZ Certified, is a program and a label for sustainable farming. The organization was founded as a non-profit in the Netherlands in 2002. The UTZ label is featured on more than 10,000 product packages in over 116 countries. ...

Religious certifications

Halal ''Halal'' (; ar, حلال, ) is an Arabic word that translates to "permissible" in English. In the Quran, the word ''halal'' is contrasted with '' haram'' (forbidden). This binary opposition was elaborated into a more complex classification k ...

(

Islamic dietary laws Islamic dietary laws are dietary laws that Muslims follow. Islamic jurisprudence specifies which foods are '' '' (, "lawful") and which are '' '' (, "unlawful"). The dietary laws are found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as well as in col ...

) * Kashrut ( Kosher foods in Jewish law)

Controversies

Ag-gag Ag-gag laws are anti-whistleblower laws that apply within the agriculture industry. Popularized by Mark Bittman in an April 2011 ''The New York Times'' column (but used long before then by advocates), the term ''ag-gag'' typically refers to state ...

Named geographic origin

Appellation An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown, although other types of food often have appellations as well. Restrictions other than geographical boun ...

Geographical indication A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product's source, ...

Country of origin Country of origin (CO) represents the country or countries of manufacture, production, design, or brand origin where an article or product comes from. For multinational brands, CO may include multiple countries within the value-creation process ...

Protected Geographical Status Three European Union schemes of geographical indications and traditional specialties, known as protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG), promote and protect nam ...

(European Union) *

Appellation d'origine contrôlée An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown, although other types of food often have appellations as well. Restrictions other than geographical bou ...

(

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

) *

Denominazione di Origine Controllata The following four classifications of wine constitute the Italian system of labelling and legally protecting Italian wine: * ''Denominazione di origine'' (DO, rarely used; ; English: “designation of origin”), * ''Indicazione geografica tipi ...

(

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

)

Genetic and commercial origin

* Labeling of genetically modified food *

Produce traceability Produce traceability makes it possible to track produce from its point of origin to a retail location where it is purchased by consumers. Produce traceability is an important link in protecting public health since it allows health agencies to more ...

* Standards of identity for food

Preparation at site of consumption

* Shake well

Pricing

Pay what you want Pay what you want (or PWYW, also referred to as value-for-value model) is a pricing strategy where buyers pay their desired amount for a given commodity. This amount can sometimes include zero. A minimum (floor) price may be set, and/or a suggest ...

(PWYW) * Pay what you can (PWYC) *

Dine and dash Dine and dash is the US phrase for a form of theft by fraud, in which a patron or patrons orders and consumes food and beverages from a restaurant or similar establishment with the intent not to pay. The act may involve the customer leaving the ...

Maximum retail price Maximum retail price (MRP) is a manufacturer calculated price that is the highest price that can be charged for a product sold in India and Bangladesh. About However, the retailers may choose to sell products for less than the MRP. MRP differs ...

(MRP)

Safety information

* Alcohol abuse *

Danger zone (food safety) The danger zone is the temperature range in which food-borne bacteria can grow. Food safety agencies, such as the United States' Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), define the danger zone as roughly . The FSIS stipulates that potentially ...

Five-second rule The five-second rule, sometimes known as the three-second rule,(7 February 2006Getting the dirt of the 5-second rule ''Southeast Missourian'' is a food hygiene myth that states a defined time window where it is safe to pick up food (or sometim ...

Food allergy A food allergy is an abnormal immune response to food. The symptoms of the allergic reaction may range from mild to severe. They may include itchiness, swelling of the tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, trouble breathing, or low blood pressur ...

Food intolerance Food intolerance is a detrimental reaction, often delayed, to a food, beverage, food additive, or compound found in foods that produces symptoms in one or more body organs and systems, but generally refers to reactions other than food allergy. Fo ...

* Food safety *

Food sampling Food sampling is a process used to check that a food is safe and that it does not contain harmful contaminants, or that it contains only permitted additives at acceptable levels, or that it contains the right levels of key ingredients and its lab ...

Food spoilage Food spoilage is the process where a food product becomes unsuitable to ingest by the consumer. The cause of such a process is due to many outside factors as a side-effect of the type of product it is, as well as how the product is packaged and s ...

International Food Safety Network The International Food Safety Network (iFSN) at Kansas State University imparts the opportunity of improving the overall safety of the food supply by connecting all those in the agriculture and food industry. iFSN offers a resource of evidence-ba ...

ISO 22000 ISO 22000 is a Food safety management system which is outcome focused, providing requirements for any organization in the food industry with objective to help to improve overall performance in food safety. These standards are intended to ensure ...

* Refrigerate after opening *

Shelf life Shelf life is the length of time that a commodity may be stored without becoming unfit for use, consumption, or sale. In other words, it might refer to whether a commodity should no longer be on a pantry shelf (unfit for use), or no longer on a ...

dates ("Use by" and "Best before") *

Warning label A warning label is a label attached to a Product (business), product, or contained in a product's Owner's manual, instruction manual, warning the user about risks associated with its use, and may include restrictions by the Manufacturing, man ...

* Food Allergen Declarationbr>FALCPA

By region

FAO GM Foods Platform The FAO GM Foods Platform is a web platform where participating countries can share information on their assessments of the safety of genetically modified (recombinant-DNA) foods and feeds based on the Codex Alimentarius. It also allows for sharing ...

* Food Administration

Asia

India

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is a co ...

Thailand

* Phuket: "Yellow flag" for vegetarian food during ‘ngan kin jeh’ vegetarian festival

North America

Canada

Food and Drugs Act The ''Food and Drugs Act'' (the ''Act'') (formal title ''An Act respecting food, drugs, cosmetics and therapeutic devices'') is an act of the Parliament of Canada regarding the production, import, export, transport across provinces and sale of f ...

Monsanto Canada Inc v Schmeiser ''Monsanto Canada Inc v Schmeiser'' 0041 S.C.R. 902, 2004 SCC 34 is a leading Supreme Court of Canada case on patent rights for biotechnology, between a Canadian canola farmer, Percy Schmeiser, and the agricultural biotechnology company Monsanto. ...

Mexico

* NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010

United States

* Acceptable Market Name * Adulteration of Coffee Act 1718 *

American Agricultural Law Association The American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) is a professional organization focusing on the legal needs of the agricultural community in the United States. The association was founded in 1980. The AALA's stated vision Is: * That the agricul ...

Dietary exposure assessments in the United States Dietary exposure assessments in the United States involve the evaluation of dietary consumption and chemical residue data while taking into consideration additional factors that may affect a specified population of interest or sensitive population ...

* Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 *

Early history of food regulation in the United States The history of early food regulation in the United States started with the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, when the United States federal government began to intervene in the food and drug businesses. When that bill proved ineffective, the administrati ...

* Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (US) *

FDA Food Safety Modernization Act The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 4, 2011. The FSMA has given the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authority to regulate the way foods are grown, harvested and processed. The l ...

* Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act *

Federal Meat Inspection Act The Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906 (FMIA) is an American law that makes it illegal to adulterate or misbrand meat and meat products being sold as food, and ensures that meat and meat products are slaughtered and processed under strictly r ...

Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 President of the United States George W. Bush signed the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) on September 27, 2007. This law reviewed, expanded, and reaffirmed several existing pieces of legislation regulating the FDA. Thes ...

Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 The United States Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA) amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This act is related to the regulation of food, drugs, devices, and biological products by the FDA. These changes ...

* Food libel laws *

Food Quality Protection Act The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), or H.R.1627, was passed unanimously by Congress in 1996 and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 3, 1996. The FQPA standardized the way the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would man ...

* Generally recognized as safe *

Global Food Security Act of 2009 The Global Food Security Act of 2009, also known as the Lugar-Casey Food Security Bill, is a bill introduced February 5, 2009 in the 111th Congress by Richard Lugar (Indiana-Republican Party (United States), R) and sponsored by Bob Casey, Jr., Rober ...

Kevin's Law Kevin's Law (as referred to in Representative Anna Eshoo's introduction of the law in 2005 and in the 2008 documentary '' Food, Inc.''; formally known as the Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction and Enforcement Act of 2003, ) was proposed legislatio ...

* Mandatory country-of-origin labeling of food sold in the United States *

Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act The American Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act (), also known as the Cheeseburger Bill, sought to protect producers and retailers of foods—such as McDonald's Corporation—from an increasing number of suits and class action ...

* Public Law 114-214, regulating

GMO food Genetically modified foods (GM foods), also known as genetically engineered foods (GE foods), or bioengineered foods are foods produced from organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering. Gen ...

labeling *

Pure Food and Drug Act The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, also known as Dr. Wiley's Law, was the first of a series of significant consumer protection laws which was enacted by Congress in the 20th century and led to the creation of the Food and Drug Administratio ...

* Regulation of food and dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration * Standards of identity for food *

Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 is the portion of the Code of Federal Regulations that governs food and drugs within the United States for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (O ...

* '' United States v. Correll'' * ''

United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar ''United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar'', 265 U.S. 438 (1924), was an ''In rem jurisdiction, in rem'' case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that apple cider vinegar is mislabeled when that vinegar is ...

Europe

European Union

*Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of

organic product An organic product is made from materials produced by organic agriculture. Most well known organic products are organic food items, however clothing and personal care items can also be made with organic agriculture. Many countries have strict c ...

s * Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 *Regulation 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs: defines "labelling" as "any words, particulars, trade marks,

brand name A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

, pictorial matter or symbol relating to a foodstuff and placed on any packaging, document, notice, label, ring or collar accompanying or referring to such foodstuff".EUR-Lex
Regulation 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
article 3, accessed 27 June 2022

United Kingdom

* Assize of Bread and Ale * McLibel case *

United Kingdom food labeling regulations The law in the United Kingdom on food information and labelling is multifaceted and is spread over many reforms and parliamentary acts. UK law is based on the relevant European Union rules, chiefly Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, which is implemente ...

* The Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 200

Oceania

* Food Standards Australia New Zealand

New Zealand

Food Act 1981 The Food Act 1981 was an Act of Parliament in New Zealand. It is administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries (New Zealand), Ministry for Primary Industries. The Food Act 2014 replaced the Food Act progressively over three years from wh ...

South America

Chile

* Food Labelling and Advertising Law

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Food labeling regulations Appellations Brand management Food law Food packaging Food labelling Product certification Product management Regulation Retailing-related lists Religious dietary certification organizations Religious consumer symbols