What are food safety labels?
Food safety labels are designed to help consumers identify whether a food product is safe to eat. The labels provide information on the product's expiration date, storage instructions, and warnings about potential allergens or other hazards.
The Top 5 Things You Should Look for on Food Safety Labels
What's on a Food Label?
The manufacturer, packer, or distributor can be found on the food label. The name and address of the company will be listed on the label along with other information such as the product's weight and expiration date.
The Common or Usual Name of the Food
The common or usual name of the food is what most people would call it. For example, the common or usual name of a apple is just "apple." The scientific or Latin name for the same fruit would be "Malus domestica."
A List of Ingredients in the Food
A list of ingredients in the food is very important. It helps you to know what is in the food, and it also helps you to choose a healthier option.
The Net Quantity of Contents in the Package
According to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the net quantity of contents in a package must be plainly and conspicuously displayed on the principal display panel in terms of weight, measure, count, or numerical proportion (e.g., SERVINGS PER PACKAGE). This requirement helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions at the retail level and is also useful for price comparisons.
The Date of Manufacture or Packaging
If you're looking at a carton of milk, the date you want to see is the "sell by" date. This is the last day that the store should sell the milk. You can still drink it after that, but it won't taste as good. The "best if used by (or before)" date is when the food will be of best flavor or quality. It's not a safety date except for infant formula (see below). Food manufacturers provide these dates to help stores rotate their stock and to give you information about food quality