Specific foodsDepartment of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of ReadingFood Labelling in the UK: A Guide to the Legal Requirements .............. Home Page |
| Specific foods |
Although a label might meet the strict requirements of the Regulations, for the UK the requirements of the Food Safety Act are paramount. In this regard, Section 15(1) of the Act states the following:
Any person who gives with any food sold by him, or displays with any food offered
or exposed by him for sale or in his possession for the purpose of sale, a label,
whether or not attached to or printed on the wrapper or container, which:
(b) is likely to mislead as to the nature or substance or quality of the food, shall be guilty of an offence. Section 15(1) |
So, when completing the design of a food label, it is important to ensure that it does not 'falsely describe the food' or, in some way, 'mislead as to the nature or substance or quality of the food'. It is impossible to give precise guidance as to the interpretation of these requirements - only the Courts can ultimately decide whether a label contravenes these provisions.