Food Label Close-Up
                           by Paula Kurtzweil
What do you look for when you read a food label? Fat content, calories,
ingredients, brand name?
If so, you're not alone. A 1993 Food Marketing Institute survey of 1,000
U.S. shoppers found that such information was sought by most label
readers. Fat content was No. 1, followed closely by ingredients,
calories, and other nutrient information.
But not everyone read the label for nutrition information. A few said
they read it to learn the brand name, expiration date, or package
weight.
Their responses show just how diverse label information has become. Some
of the information, such as the manufacturer's name and address, is
required. Some, such as health claims and terms that describe a food's
nutrient content, is voluntary. Much of it is regulated by the Food and
Drug Administration. (The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates
labeling of meat and poultry. FDA regulates labeling of all other foods,
including game meats.)
Some information has just been--or soon will be--added to the label.
This is the result of two laws that become effective in 1994: the
American Technology Preeminence Act of 1991, which took effect Feb. 14,
and the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (NLEA), which goes
into effect May 8 (although some manufacturers have already started to
relabel their products).
Under the Technology Preeminence Act, food manufacturers have to list
the net contents of their products in both metric units and inch and
pound units.
     Regulations implemented under NLEA will require: nutrition
     information on almost all foods a new format for presenting
     nutrition information set definitions for nutrient claims, such as
     "low-fat" and "high-fiber"
Appropriate use of seven scientifically proven claims about the
relationship between a nutrient or food and reducing the risk of a
disease or health-related condition
Ingredient listing on all foods with two or more ingredients.
The changes--the most extensive in food labeling history--are designed
to make label information more complete, useful and accurate than ever
before. Soon, consumers will not only be able to know more about the
foods they eat but will also have more confidence in what they read on
the label.
Here's a rundown of today's food label.
A Two-Panel Label
A food package usually has at least two distinct areas: the principal
display panel, or PDP, and the information panel.
The PDP is the part of the label consumers see first when they purchase
a product. So, in almost all cases, the PDP is the front of the package.
This is where FDA requires the name of the product and the net quantity
of contents statement.
The information panel is usually to the immediate right of the PDP. It
is reserved for the nutrition information; ingredient list; and name and
address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. If there's
insufficient space on the information panel for these three pieces of
information, they then can be divided between the PDP and the
information panel.
Also, these three items of information may be separated from each other
on packages with less than 40 square inches available for labeling. On
these packages, the nutrition facts may be moved to another panel if
there is insufficient space for it on the information panel.
FDA has proposed to allow the nutrition facts on larger packages to be
moved to other panels, too, if there is insufficient space on the PDP or
information panel for all of the required information.
Nevertheless, each of these items of information is considered one
piece, and as a general rule they cannot be broken up with intervening
material. For example, a Universal Product Code (UPC) cannot appear in
the middle of the nutrition facts. And a health claim or product
trademark cannot appear in the middle of the ingredient list.
Food Name
The name of a food is called the "statement of identity." It's easy to
spot because it's one of the principal features of the principal display
panel. It must be in English, although foreign language versions may
accompany it. Its common or usual name also must be given: for example,
whole kernel corn,   honey,  or  tuna packed in spring water. When
appropriate, it must describe the form of the food, too, such as sliced
peaches  or  whole peaches.
A brand name can serve as the statement of identity if the name is
commonly used and understood by the public to refer to a specific
food--for example, Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola.
Net Quantity
The net quantity of contents statement helps consumers in two ways:
First, it lets consumers know how much food is in a container, and
second, it aids in price comparison.
It refers only to the quantity of food (including any liquid or juice
usually eaten in which the food may be packed) in a package or
container. It does not include the weight of the container or wrappers.
Shoppers will find the net quantity of contents statement in the lower
third of the principal display panel.
Starting in 1994, the net quantity of contents will have to be stated in
both inch or pound units and metric units. Many companies are already
complying with this requirement. On the label, the statement would
appear like this: Net Wt 8 oz (226 g). ("Oz" is an abbreviation for
ounces and "g" for grams.)
Also, instead of the term "weight," manufacturers may choose to use
"mass" when stating the quantity of a solid food. "Net content" will
continue to be one of the optional terms for liquid foods.
Manufacturers may voluntarily continue to state the net quantity of
contents in a dual manner for the inch or pound units--for example, 20
fluid ounces (1 1/4 pint)--but they no longer will be required to do so.
Nutrition Facts
Starting in May 1994, almost every food will have to carry information
about its nutritional content. (See "Good Reading for Good Eating" in
the May 1993 FDA Consumer.) This information will come under the heading
"Nutrition Facts."
This title will replace "Nutrition Information Per Serving," which is
required under the current nutrition labeling program, established in
the mid-1970s. Under this program, nutrition labeling is required only
for foods with added nutrients or whose labels bear nutrition claims.
(For more information about nutrition labeling, see "'Nutrition Facts'
to Help Consumers Eat Smart" and "'Daily Values' Encourage Healthy Diet"
in the May 1993 FDA Consumer.)
Ingredients
The ingredient list helps consumers identify foods that have substances
they are allergic to or want to avoid for other reasons. It also helps
them select foods with ingredients they want.
An ingredient list will be required on all packaged foods composed of
two or more ingredients, even standardized foods (which previously had
to list only optional ingredients). Foods with two or more discrete
units, such as cherry pie--which has filling and pie crust--may have a
separate ingredient list for each of the units.
Ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight. This gives
consumers an idea of the proportion of an ingredient in a food.
(For more information, see "Ingredient Labeling: What's in a Food?" in
the April 1993 FDA Consumer.)
Company Name
A food label must identify the firm responsible for the product (either
the manufacturer, packer or distributor) and the firm's city, state and
zip code (or another mailing code if the product is imported). A street
address is not required if the name is listed in a current telephone
book. A telephone number is not mandatory.
The required information is there mainly so that consumers have a point
of contact if they find something wrong with the product.
Product Dates
Consumers can use the dates that are given on food packaging if the
manufacturer is using "open dating." On the other hand, consumers cannot
use "code dating."
In open dating, dates are stated alphanumerically, such as  Oct. 15, or
numerically, such as  10-15  or  1015.  In code dating, the information
is coded in letters, numbers and symbols so that usually only the
manufacturer can translate it.
Some dates for which open dating is used are:
Pull date. This is the last day that the manufacturer recommends that
the product remain for sale. This date takes into consideration
additional time for storage and use at home, so if the food is bought on
the pull date, it still can be eaten at a later date. How long the
product should be offered for sale and how much home storage is allowed
are determined by the manufacturer, based on knowledge of the product
and the product's shelf life.
Quality assurance or freshness date. This date shows how long the
manufacturer thinks a food will be of optimal quality. On the label, it
may appear like this: "Best if used by October 1994." This doesn't mean,
however, that the product shouldn't be used after the suggested date.
Pack date. This is the date the food was packaged or processed. It may
enable consumers to determine how old a product is.
Expiration date. This is the last day on which a product should be
eaten. State governments regulate these dates for perishable items, such
as milk and eggs. FDA regulates only the expiration dates of infant
formula.
A common type of code dating is the product code. This code enables the
manufacturer to convey a relatively large amount of information with a
few small letters, numbers and symbols. It tells when and where a
product was packaged. In the case of a recall, this makes it easier to
quickly identify and track down the product and take it off the market.
FDA encourages manufacturers to put product codes on packaging,
especially for products with a long shelf life.
Health Claims
FDA now allows manufacturers to make certain claims linking the effect
of a nutrient or food to a disease or health-related condition. Only
claims supported by scientific evidence are allowed. And they can be
used only under certain conditions, such as when the food is an adequate
source of the appropriate nutrients.
The claims may show a link between:
    a diet with enough calcium and a lower risk of osteoporosis
    a diet low in total fat and a reduced risk of some cancers
    a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and a reduced risk of
        coronary heart disease
    a diet rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits and
        vegetables and a reduced risk of some cancers
    a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and grain products that contain
        fiber and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease
    a diet low in sodium and a reduced risk of high blood pressure
    a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and a reduced risk of some
        cancers.
In addition, FDA has proposed allowing a claim for folic acid and a
reduced risk of neural tube defects in offspring. While this claim is
now authorized on dietary supplements, the agency expects to issue a
final rule on the use of this claim on all foods in the near future.
Consumers can use these claims to identify foods with desirable
nutritional qualities. They will probably find a reference to the claim
on the front label, but the claim itself may appear elsewhere on the
label.
(For more information, see "Starting This Month, Look for 'Legit' Health
Claims on Foods" in the May 1993 FDA Consumer.)
Nutrient Content Claims
Besides the seven health claims, FDA also has set conditions for the use
of terms that describe a food's nutrient content. Eleven basic terms
have been defined that relate to several nutrients. They are:
free
low
reduced
fewer
lean
high
less
extra
lean
source
light
The term "sodium free," for example, means that the food contains less
than 5 milligrams of sodium per serving of the food.
These terms will probably appear on the front label, although
manufacturers may place them on other parts of the label, too. Like
health claims, these terms also can help consumers quickly spot foods
with a desirable nutrient content.
(For more information, see "A Little 'Lite' Reading" in the June 1993
FDA Consumer.)
Other Information
Other types of information may appear on the food label. Among them:
Grades and standards. Some foods--such as milk, butter, eggs, orange
juice, and meat--carry a grade on their label that attests to their
quality. The grades show up as letters, such as AA, A, and B for eggs;
words, such as "choice" and "select" for meat, or "substandard" for some
canned vegetables; or as some kind of logo or mark, such as the Grade A
shield on orange juice containers. Such foods sold in grocery stores
usually carry the highest grades given. USDA establishes some of these
standards for foods, such as meat, butter, eggs, and fruit juices. FDA
has standards for a number of foods, including canned vegetables. The
National Marine Fisheries Service grades fish on a fee-for-service
basis.
Trademarks and copyrights. The symbol "R" on a label indicates that a
trademark used on the label is registered with the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office. A "C" means that the literary or artistic work of the
label is protected under U.S. copyright laws.
Religious symbols. Any number of more than 50 symbols may appear on
foods to indicate that the food has been processed according to Jewish
dietary laws. One of the more common is a letter "U" inside the letter
"O." This means that the food has been authorized as "kosher" by the
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. FDA does not regulate
any of these symbols.
Universal Product Code. The UPC is a bar code with a 10-digit number. It
is used with computerized grocery store checkout equipment to give an
automated inventory system. The Uniform Code Council Inc., of Dayton,
Ohio, monitors this system.
Safe Food Handling Instructions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has
proposed requiring safe handling and cooking instructions on raw meat
and poultry products. These instructions would state that  some food
products may contain bacteria that could cause an illness if the product
is mishandled or cooked improperly. They also would give tips on safe
storage of raw products, prevention of cross-contamination between raw
and cooked foods, safe cooking procedures, and handling of leftovers.
The proposed requirements may go into effect this year. n
Paula Kurtzweil is a member of FDA's public affairs staff.
One Source for Food Labeling Info ...
The articles cited here, as well as other FDA Consumer stories about the
new food label, are available in the FDA Consumer special report Focus
on Food Labeling. Copies are $5 each and can be ordered from the
Government Printing Office. Write to: Superintendent of Documents, P.O.
Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7594. Ask for publication number FDA
93-2262.