This blog has previously discussed how the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering taking a more hands-on approach when it comes to food labels for pre-packaged items. While not all grocers are thrilled with the idea of detailed menus with calorie information for all food items, there are those who believe such a move would only be beneficial to consumers.
According to WWLP, a Massachusetts news affiliate, the pre-packaged food industry has grown 14 percent over the last five years. Additionally, seeing items labeled as “organic” or “all natural” has become more popular.
Nutritionist Paula Serafino-Cross told the news source that saying something is “all natural” has nothing to do with FDA standards.
“Well there is no definition for natural so of course manufacturers are very savvy and they try to put that on the packaging to try to entice people to buy it, and consumers don’t know it’s not necessarily natural,” she explained to WWLP.
A contribution piece in The Safety Report explained that pre-packaged items are often filled with sodium, additives and trans fat. The article cites information from the FDA, which recommends that an individual’s daily sodium intake should stay under 2,300 mg but many Americans consume closer to 3,436 mg on a daily basis.
Until there are legal requirements for pre-packaged foods, consumers must pay close attention to food labels before they make a purchase.
For companies that want to put forth quality products for their customers, they must also take care to supply as much information as possible. Investing in a Primera LX900 color label printer can give organizations the tools they need to create detailed and accurate food labels that still adhere to federal requirements.