Learn From Labels

          Consumers of today have no difficulty in buying a wide variety of food they need and want. The difficulty they would only face is how to choose wisely from the abundant supply. There are thousands of food items available in the market in different brands, kinds, varieties and sizes.

          In ancient days, some products sold in stores were placed in barrels or boxes where customers gets a small portion of the product to have a taste of it. Other products like sugar or flour, were scooped and weighed by the store owner.

          Today, products are packaged. The package protects the product and helps the producers display and sell their products. An attractive package usually attracts more consumers.

          The label is an important part of every package. A label is a slip of printed or written material attached to a container or wrapper that states the contents and gives other information about a product. It contains the manufacturer’s message which serves as the descriptions of the product. Today’s consumers depend upon the labels to help them choose intelligently what goods to buy. Nowadays, it is really important to read well and understand labels. Disappointments and errors in buying products can be avoided if the information on labels are read.

          Laws protect the consumers by seeing to it that foods are clean and safe for human consumption and are labelled correctly. The Food and Drug Law (R. A. 3720) mandates that a product or article for use as food, drug or medical device must be labelled.

          The law requires that a label must contain the following information:

          1. Trademark, brand or legal name of the product

          2. Name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributer

          3. Net contents or weight- in metric measurement

          4. Country of origin

          5. Metric measure

     6. Chemical or physical composition-statement of ingredients used, artificial colouring, chemical preservatives, flavouring and other additives used

          Many manufacturers may give additional information other than those required by law such as:

          1. A picture of the food in its actual size, colour and shape

          2. Information regarding the size of the container, number of pieces, cupful’s or serving

          3. Style of packing

          4. Recipes using the products

       5. Directions for use or suggestions on how best to prepare the product for serving

          Food producers and the Food and Drug Administration are doing their best to provide sanitary, safe and wholesome buy and sell. The consumers should learn how to read and understand labels to avoid being fooled or misled by false claims and deceptive advertisements.

          Labels should attract the buyer’s attention. They should be easy to read and understand. The directions written on it should be simple and the print should be in large letters. Labels should also be truthful about the product or should not claim that it comes from a country like the USA when it does not. If a product is an imitation of a natural substance such as banana flavouring, it must state ‘’imitation’’ banana flavouring. If the product is below the standards set by the Food and Drug Administration, it must state ‘’Below Standard Quality’’ or ‘’Seconds’’. It should also state the correct net contents, amount of ingredients used in making the product and the amount of nutrient content of the product. The true name and address of the manufacturer should also be printed legibly on the label. The company which the product is under license of should not be printed in big bold letters while the text ‘’ Made in the Philippines’’ in small letters; it will appear that the product is made abroad.

          Labels are important sources of information to the consumers if what they say describes truthfully the actual contents of the product.

-Realyn Gratito