The Importance Of Accurate Labelling On Ready-To-Eat Food Products

by Startacus Admin

For entrepreneurs looking to enter the competitive food industry, there are lots of factors to consider.

These range from health and safety through to the providence of your ingredients and beyond. The food industry is heavily regulated, and with good reason, meaning that you have to be careful that you’re not only creating products clients will enjoy, but also that meet the standards expected of you by regulatory bodies.

With the ready-to-eat food market set to flourish over the coming years, it’s no surprise that many innovators are choosing to enter this booming space.

Just because this food is packaged and not as fresh as restaurant meals, that doesn’t mean that the market isn’t just as heavily regulated.

In fact, with negative news stories about ready-to-eat foods constantly circulating, it’s never been more important that food in this sector is stored, and particularly, labelled, correctly.

Read on to find out why accurate labels are so crucial in this industry and how you can improve your customers’ safety by creating readable, reliable labels for your products.

Allergens Need To Be Displayed Clearly

Food allergies are increasingly common among consumers, and whilst some only produce mild symptoms, in extreme cases ingesting an allergen can be fatal. As a result of several high-profile cases of allergens not being included on food labels, the UK government has introduced Natasha’s Law, which means that producers need to be more diligent about labelling their food products. This will ensure that your products comply with this law and keep your customers safe.

Consumers Are Increasingly Interested In Knowing What’s In Their Food

Thanks to the internet, and the increased trend for fad diets that cut out certain food types or groups, consumers are now more interested than ever before in knowing what’s in their food. If you’re not completely transparent about ingredients and hide behind terms such as ‘flavourings’ or ‘colourants’ instead of giving full, accurate descriptions of what’s in your food products, then discerning customers may go elsewhere. These terms are often perfectly legal, particularly if there’s only a trace amount of a specific ingredient in the product, but consumers may not like the fact that you’re not telling them exactly what’s in the food you’re selling. This could lead them to purchase products from your competitors, so it’s worth being as transparent as possible on your food labels.

Ignorance Isn’t An Excuse

With customers at such serious risk of harm, or even death, if they eat products that are unsuitable for them or unsafe, no company can use ignorance as an excuse. As such, your firm needs to constantly be on top of the latest market developments. Even if a label has all the relevant information on it, but it is poorly made and some of it has worn away, then this can also cause harm to consumers. Work with a quality custom sticker provider such as label.co.uk, so that you can ensure that your labels are top quality and won’t peel away or get so damaged that they become unreadable.

Best Before Dates Are A Focus For Consumers

Whilst customers are increasingly aware of the need to reduce waste in order reduce our impact on the planet, many remain vigilant about getting rid of food that is beyond its use by or sell by date. As such, it’s important that you provide clear dates on your food products, as if you don’t then many consumers may look elsewhere. This is true for both fresh foods, and products that have a longer shelf life.

Labels Allow You To Instruct Consumers On How To Prepare Food Properly

Most ready-to-go food can be eaten immediately, but some products, such as ready-to-eat soups, stews and pastries, are often best when served warm. By putting accurate instructions on your food labels, you can advise your customers on how they can best enjoy your food. This only needs to be a guide, as they can make the choice about how they prepare and eat the food themselves, but if you’ve given them instructions then they will know the best way to serve the food. This means that they’ll be able to enjoy the food the way it is best served and taste all the delicious flavours it has to offer.

Voluntary Dietary Restrictions Need To Be Respected Too

An allergy to a specific ingredient isn’t the only reason why a consumer would avoid eating it. Many consumers also choose to voluntarily reduce their intake of certain products, or even eliminate them from their diet completely. This is because of a moral obligation; for example, those who choose not to eat meat or dairy products to protect animals. Veganism is a flourishing movement, so it’s important that you show accurate ingredients lists and make it clear if your food is suitable for a specific diet if you want to meet the needs of a variety of consumers.

 

 

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Published on: 2nd April 2020