wide difference in food labeling

bazfitness

I don't know what it's like in the US or elsewhere but in Portugal and I think EU in general there does not seem to be any standard adhered to. Some producers do not have any food labeling beyond ingredients. Others give basic carbs, fats and proteins. Very few give you the whole detail that you need to know to make fully informed decisions. Lots of producers produce no data for monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats for examples, something I really want to know and damn important!

As usual it seems us consumers are kept in the dark too often! Anyone else from the EU know if producers are flouting some regulation by not displaying this data?

dls06

I think the best thing to do is try to stick to fresh whole foods and not packaged. I know it's hard but I don't see any other way. If you do have something in a package, try to find something in the database that seems similar.

kelsully

In the US if it is sold in a package there must be nutrition labeling.

lporter229

Fortunately, it is required in the US. I would go crazy without it, sadly.

bazfitness

Fortunately, it is required in the US. I would go crazy without it, sadly.

When you say it is required. Do you mean everything, including monounsaturates and polyunsaturates?

I think the best thing to do is try to stick to fresh whole foods and not packaged. I know it's hard but I don't see any other way. If you do have something in a package, try to find something in the database that seems similar.

Yip I agree, I'm planning cutting out anything that I can't be sure what's exactly in it, especially tinned food. Already modifying a lot of my foods with monounsaturates and polyunsaturates estimates gathered from this site or elsewhere.

tpittsley77

In the US all items must be on food labels, calories, fats (poly and mono), cholesterol, protein, sodium, sugars, net carbs, vitamins and minerals are all listed. Makes tracking a breeze for us.

tpittsley77

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/cp/wholesalefood/SummaryofLabelingRequirements.pdf


Check out this link. This will explain what is required on US food labels. This is from one state, but is mandatory federally. All allergans must be listed as well on everything. If you purchase peanuts, the package will say "Warning contains peanuts"... The US is very strict.

Also, most restaurants have to list nutritional information on their websites.

yarwell

EU rules :-


Article 30
Content
1. The mandatory nutrition declaration shall include the following:
(a) energy value; and
(b) the amounts of fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt.
Where appropriate, a statement indicating that the salt content is exclusively due to the presence of naturally occurring sodium may appear in close proximity to the nutrition declaration.
2. The content of the mandatory nutrition declaration referred to in paragraph 1 may be supplemented with an indication of the amounts of one or more of the following:
(a) mono-unsaturates;
(b) polyunsaturates;
(c) polyols;
(d) starch;
(e) fibre;
http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/labellingnutrition/foodlabelling/proposed_legislation_en.htm

bazfitness

Thanks for the infos. Shock, horror Portuguese companies totally ignore an EU directive - well that's a first! (need sarcasm smiley), a directive that doesn't even go far enough imo as products which clearly have high amount of polyunsaturares and monounsaturates don't have that info on the packaging.

yarwell

may not have made it into Portuguese legislation I guess ?