Food Labelling Flashcards
What’s on the label
Name
Made up name must not be misleading
Processing (eg dried or roasted)
Weight / volume
Preparation
List of ingredients
Back of pack labelling
Mandatory:
Energy value
Fat
Carbs
Protein
Salt
Can be added
Starch
Fibre
Any vits or minerals providing 15% or more of the nutrient reference value
Reference intakes
Set by EU law
Replace guideline daily amounts (GDAs)
Based on average sized women doing average amount of physical activity
RIs show max amount of calories, macronutrients, and salt should be consumed in a fat
Indicate requirements, not a target
Help people make food choices that create balance
Allergens
Identified ok bold, contrasting colours or underlying them
Free from
Must not contain allergen. Cross contamination must be prevented
GF labelling exception - can contain 20mg/kg gluten
Genetically modified organisms
EU/UK most label presence of GMOs or ingredients produced from GMO
Not required on food produced with help of GMO technology
UK / EU officially GMO free: US uses GMO crops and food.
Organic
Can help labelled if at least 95% ingredients are organic
Must state where farmed ingredients were produced
Nutritional claims
EU has a pre approved list of nutritional claims which are allowed - list in annex of regulation (EC)
Eg low fat claim has to have no more than 3G of fat per 100g or 100ml
Food additives
-Colours: E100s
-Preservatives: E200s
-Antioxidants: E300s and E586
-Emulsifiers, stabilisers and thickeners, gelling agents: E400s, E322 and E1103
-Flavour enhancers: E600s
-Sweeteners: E900s and E420 and E421
Colours
Natural:
E162 beetroot
E101 and E106 riboflavin
E100 curcumin
Artificial
E102 tartrazine
E124 ponceau 4R
E133 brilliant blue
E102 tartrazine yellow (associated with rhinitis, itchy, blurred vision
Associated with hyperactivity and concentration
ADHD
Preservatives
Slow down decomposition
E211 sodium benzoate (carbonated drinks, pickles)
E220 sulphur dioxide (dried fruit, sausages, wine)
E252 sodium nitrate (processed meat)
Adverse affects - asthma and allergies
ADHD associations
Antioxidant
Lowers chance of fats and oils turning rancid
E310 PG
E320 BHA
E321 BHT
Emulsifiers
Mix ingredients normally would separate
E433 polysorbate
Increase risk of IBD and colon cancer
Stabilisers
Prevent ingredients separating again
Lecithin
Agar agar
Thickners
E400
Linked with GI issues including bloating, cramping, nausea
Flavour enhancers
E621 MSG
Shortness of breath and throat swelling
Skin flushing, headaches, muscle tightness
Sweeteners
Natural
Stevia (100X)
Xylitol (not as big sugar spike, toxic to dogs)
Synthetic
Aspartame
Saccharin
Intense or bulk
Intense
Stevia aspartame, saccharin
Many times Sweeter
Bulk
Xylitol
Used for structural sensory and sweetness
Artificial sweeteners
Can increase insulin levels and affect insulin sensitivity
Over stimulate sugar receptors
Addictive and cravings for sweet things
Cause DNA damage
Natural additives safe?
E407 carrageenan
Seaweed and industrially produced (thickening, stabilising, Gelling)
GI inflam, bloating and bowel disease
E330 citric acid
Citrus food but mostly now using cheap GM corn syrup (flavouring and preservative)
GM ingredient - potentially hazardous
Additives and nutritional value effect
E926. Chlorine dioxide
Synthetic
Bleaching and oxidising agent for floor
Low VIT E content
E220 sulphur dioxide
Chemically, preservative
Impedes 02 catting capacity of Hb
Destroys B1
Bad colourings
E160b annatto (natural)
Headaches, hives, irritability, sleep issues
Cheese, coleslaw, custard, etc
E120 cochineal (carmine) natural
Severe allergic reactions, can induce asthma
Desserts, bakers, soup
Bad preservatives
E240-52 nitrates and nitrites (artificial)
Systemic lupus, psoriasis’s, eczema
Processed meats, cheese
E220 sulphur dioxide (artificial)
Impedes O2 carrying Hb
Dried fruit, etc
Bad antioxidants
E320 BHA
E321 BHT
Dermatitis, headache, endocrine disrupt, carcinogenic
Chips, preserved meats, oils, cereals
Cannot be used in foods for babies or young kids
Not permitted in Japan
Bad thickener
E407 carrageenan
Disturbs gut micro biome, causes inflam and lead to GI ulcerations
Condensed milks and dairy products, jelly, nuts
Bad sweet we
E951 aspartame
Irritability, depression, impaired spacial orientation, carcinogenic, compromised BBB
Diet drinks, sugar free products
Plastic packaging
Allows leaching of chemicals - bisphenols (BPA)
Called xenoestrogens (chemicals mimic oestrogen) and binds to receptors and implicated in hormone related forward including certain cancers (breast, prostate)
Fertility problems
Plastics known to harm health
PET (soft drink juice and water bottles)
PVC & DEHA - cling film, plastic squeeze bottles and cooking oils
PS (polystyrene) - styrofoam food trays, egg cartons, takeaway food containers, disposable cups
PC (polycarbonates) plastic baby bottles and sippy cups, sport water bottles, metal food can liners
Irridation
Used to prolong shelf life
Used X-ray, gamma rays kr increased electron beams
7 categories can be irridated in EU
Fruit and veg
Cereals
Bulbs and rivers
Fish and shellfish
Dried aromatic herbs and spices
Poultry
4 types of estimates in dietary reference values
EAR: estimated average requirement. Needed by a group
RNI - required nutritional intake. 97.5% of population requirement is met
LRNI - low required nutritional intake. Only 2.5% of population requirement is met. Most need more
Safe intake - used when not anluch evidence to set an EAR
What are DRVs for (dietary reference values)
Assist government to make decisions on food policy
Provision of food aid or supply
Informed decision on fortification of food
Provide nutritional education and informative labels
Assist food industry in developing and marketing products
Assess nutritional adequacy of diets of groups and individuals
Devise nutritionally adequate labels
Mandatory food fortification in all flour (except whole ask, s-r and wheat malt floors
Calcium carbonate
Iron
Thiamine
Nicotonic acid
Problems with fortification
Used mostly synthetic nutrients
Doesn’t encourage healthy eating
No need to strip foods of nutrients
Portrays fortified foods as healthy when it’s not
Sugar laden foods are often fortified despite their health risk
