Food Quality Magazine July 2015 | Page 22

Food Quality Magazine • Food that is packaged where it is sold • Unpackaged food • Delivered food • Fruits and vegetables in clear packaging • Food served at a fundraiser Foods That Must Be Shown On Labels Because of Allergies • products that contain gluten • crustacea • eggs • fish • milk misleading or untruthful information on their food labels in order to make more sales. Examples of misleading information include: • false claims that a product encourages weight loss when it actually doesn’t • claims that a product has therapeutic or prophylactic components when it doesn’ • the use of the word “health,” unless it is in the brand name • directly or indirectly implying medical advice • tree nuts and sesame seeds • the use of references to a physiological condition or disease. • peanuts The Bottom Line • soybeans Understanding labels proves to be of major importance when it comes to taking care of ourselves, our planet, and everything in it. It also stresses the awareness we should all have as consumers. A few extra moments taken to double check labels and packaging is worth a lifetime of health and less full of disease. Make it a point to support the companies who want to sell quality products rather than take advantage of you. • added sulfites • pollen • aspartame • quinine • guarana • phytosterols • phytosterol esters • propolis • rice milk • soy milk • caffeine • unpasteurized milk and egg products Brand Representation through False Labeling The next time you go to check out food labels, you will probably notice that the brand name takes up most of the space. While it is important to pay attention to brands you know and trust, it is sometimes easier to ignore the brand and go with the facts on the packaging. All brands and advertisements on food packaging are required to comply with the Fair Trading Act and the Food Act. These two acts work collectively to make sure retailers are not putting 22 ISSUE 03 | JULY 2015 The less we buy contaminated products, the less these businesses will thrive. In Australia and New Zealand, the Health Star Rating system has been put in place to offer nutritional facts to consumers and shows comparisons of other like products alike. This is set in place to allow the consumer to make their decision on which products are best. Maybe we can look forward this labeling in the future to help make our organic efforts a l