The Importance of Product Labels

People should give great attention to the things that they use. Sometimes the things that work for others would have a different effect on some people. Different products have different characteristics and it would just be important to make sure that what you’ll buy is the one that would suit you best.

It is important for people to make the habit of reading labels. Sometimes the facts that are written on the paper application tape counts a lot, so it would really be important to take advantage of it by reading product labels and discover the benefits that it can possibly bring.

Here are some of the benefits that can be seen on the product labels supplied by the application tape supplier.

• It will tell the most desired amount of serving that can be beneficial to a person.

• It will allow consumers to know the content that products have and stay away from the ones that may cause allergic reaction.

• It can differentiate a product that is healthy from those that are not.

• It will help people in controlling their dietary food intake by knowing the calories that they will be consuming.

• It will let people find their best buy by comparing the prices of products that have the same quality.

Labels may appear to some as a simple application tape that is meant to increase the aesthetic value of a product. But for sure it will make a difference if people will look deeper on what product labels tell in order to take advantage of all its benefits.

Retrieved from : MANUFACTURER'S NOOK

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Three Butcheries Charged with Cheating in Labeling

Doha, Qatar - The Consumer Protection Department (CPD) at the Doha Municipality has charged three butcheries in Al Wakrah with selling subsidised Australian meat at higher prices.

Their modus operandi was to label the product as Arab and Syrian meat and sell it higher prices, local Arabic daily Arrayah said.

“The cheating was noticed during an inspection campaign, generally conducted during the holy month of Ramadan,” the report said.

Yousif al- Siwaidi, assistant director of the CPD, said the inspectors ensured proper labelling like the country of origin, ingredients  and prices.

He said that the CPD, in co-ordination with the health monitoring section, has planned special campaigns which focused mainly on the prices and quality of food materials, in the month of Ramadan.

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7 Misleading Labels on Food Products

Have you ever decided to choose one grocery item over another because of the health benefit claims on the label? You may have been tricked. That’s because terms like 100% natural or no cholestrol are often labeled on a food item that may not be healthy at all. 

Frustrated? You wouldn't anymore. Here's the list of the 7 common—and most misleading phrases—manufacturers use on food, with advice on how to look past the hype to make smarter supermarket choices.

1. All natural

It seems reasonable to assume that a product labeled “all natural” comes almost directly from the farm to the shelf. But the FDA has relatively few guidelines governing the use of the term and admits that some “natural” food “has probably been processed and is no longer the product of the earth.”

The only requirement the FDA has for using the phrase “natural” is that the product contains no added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances. These not-so-natural products can often contain unhealthy additives like preservatives, high fructose corn syrup and GMOs; meats, milk, cheese and other products may come from animals treated with growth hormones or antibiotics.

Better word to look for:

organic (but see notes on this term later in the article)

2. Wheat or multigrain

Seeing that a product is “made with whole grains,” or is labeled “wheat” or “multigrain” should be a plus for consumers. Unfortunately, those words have little merit by themselves. Such products can have as little as 1 percent of whole grains, and while the number can range up to 49 percent, it’s difficult to know how much the food actually contains.

Better word to look for:

100% whole grain, 100% whole wheat, a whole grain listed as the first ingredient

3. Sugar free & No Sugar Added

In general, steer clear of products that are labeled “sugar free.” Such foods often contain artificial sweeteners or “sugar alcohols.” While artificial sweeteners usually have zero calories, there are a number of studies questioning their safety, particularly with causing cancer and other health concerns. Sugar alcohols have substantially less calories than sugar; however, they still contain calories and carbohydrates (and the foods they’re in sometimes have high amounts of each), and consuming large amounts can cause diarrhea.

Better word to look for:

100% fruit juice sweetened (verify in ingredients list)

4. Fat free

It’s true that it’s good to avoid trans and saturated fats, but that doesn’t mean fat-free foods are healthy. Actually, foods labeled with this phrase can include just as much sugar and calories as foods with higher fat content. (See “Superfood of the Day: Avocado” to learn how calories and healthy fats from the delicious avocado fruit are good for you.)

Better word to look for:

Naturally low-calorie (usually associated with whole or minimally-processed foods)

5. Cholesterol free

Foods labeled “cholesterol free” may still contain 2 milligrams (mg) per serving while “low cholesterol” products can contain up to 20 mg. The term “reduced cholesterol” refers to products that contain 25 percent less cholesterol than comparable products. Regardless of the amount of cholesterol in the food, products with this label can still contain trans and saturated fats, which are known to raise LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol levels.

Better word to look for:

When a product claims to be “cholesterol-free,” “low cholesterol,” or “reduced cholesterol,” check the label to make sure it isn’t loaded with saturated and trans fats.

6. Made with Real Fruit

While certain packaged foods may say they’re “made with real fruit,” it’s difficult to know how much—or how little—actual real fruit it contains. Additionally, these products can (and often do) contain a slew of other ingredients, such as sugar and artificial colors and flavors, that offset the nutritional value the real fruit ingredients may have added.

Better word to look for:

100 percent real fruit (such as in dried fruit snacks; watch for added sugar)

7. Organic

When you’re shopping for apples, carrots or other whole foods, organic is a good option. Compared with other terms, the FDA provides relatively strict guidelines for foods that use this term and accompanying USDA organic label. But, when buying prepared or processed foods, the term “organic” has become synonymous with “healthy.” Just because you buy organic cookies, however, it doesn’t mean they’re healthy. Be sure to check the labels of all non-whole foods you purchase so that you’re aware of the amount of calories, fats, cholesterol, sugar and other ingredients in your food.

Better word to look for:

Organic is still a great option, but be sure you’re aware of what’s in your food.

The key? Don’t trust buzzwords big companies use as marketing tactics. Read labels and be aware of what you put into your body.

What are some other misleading words you’ve seen on packaging labels? Please share in the comments.

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4 Easy Steps to Reading Personal Care Product Labels

From toothpaste to shampoo, to shaving cream and make-up, personal care essentials are an omnipresent part of life.

More than 20 percent of personal care products contain chemicals that may contribute to cancer, and four out of five of their ingredients are typically contaminated with toxic byproducts.

Protecting ourselves –and especially our kids—from this lack of oversight starts with knowing how to read labels.

1. Check the ingredients.
   Manufacturers must list what’s inside, though critical exceptions are made for things like trade secrets including fragrance formulas. The fewer ingredients you see and the more easily understood they are, the safer the product is likely to be.
   
   
2. Ingredients are listed on the label in the order of their concentration by weight.
   Choosing products with nontoxic ingredients listed first will minimize your exposure to unsafe substances. Not sure which are safe? Consult the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database of products and ingredients. Of course a completely nontoxic product is the ideal.
   
   
3. Avoid anything with the word “fragrance” on its label.
   A typical synthetic fragrance may be composed of hundreds of chemicals, many of which are highly toxic, yet manufacturers are only required to list the word “fragrance” on labels. Common fragrance hazards include neurotoxins, sensitizing allergens, hormone-disrupting phthalates, and synthetic musks. Want something scented? Look for natural and organic essential oils.
   
   
4. Ignore meaningless labeling terms like “natural,” “dermatologist-tested,” and “botanical.”
   They have no legal definition and can mean just about anything. Even “organic” can’t be trusted—it’s legally defined only for ingredients that are also foods, like olive oil. For non-food ingredients, the term is unregulated.

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Why It's Important to Read Food Product Labels

From cheese snacks that don't contain cheese to creamer without any cream, Pat Foran explains the importance of reading labels.

A video by CTVNews; uploaded on The Globe and Mail Video.



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How to Read A Chemical Product Label

These hazardous products cleaning agents, detergents, Polishes, stripping compounds, Pesticides and many others are required by law to meet specific label requirements. These requirements provide you with the information you need to protect yourself, others, pets and the environment. For maximum protection, this label should be consulted before buying, using, storing or disposing of any hazardous products.

What Is A Hazardous Household Product?

A "hazardous substance" is defined in federal government regulations as one which may cause personal injury or illness during any customary or reasonable foreseeable handling or use. Any household product containing a "hazardous substance" is what you should regard as a hazardous household product.

How Can I Tell If The Products I Buy or Use Are Hazardous?

READ THE LABEL!!!! Everything that is on the label of a hazardous product is there for a reason. Products containing "hazardous substances" are required by federal laws to bear a label of specific size and containing certain information depending on the toxicity of the product or hazard presented by the product. The following two sets of guidelines will help you to understand product labels so that you can avoid any hazards associated with Products in either of the two categories of hazardous household products.

How to Read a Household Chemical Product Label

The hazards posed by household chemical products other than Pesticides include hazards other than toxicity alone. The Federal Hazardous Substances Act establishes that a hazardous substance is one which is toxic, corrosive, irritant, flammable or radioactive. All of these properties of the household chemical product determine how the product is labeled.

The labels of household products containing hazardous substances must bear at least the following information: Signal Word - The signal word "DANGER" on substances which are extremely flammable, corrosive or highly toxic. On those substances which are highly toxic, the additional word "POISON" must be included. The signal word "WARNING" or "CAUTION" on all other hazardous substances.

Common and/or Chemical Name

A list of the common names of the hazardous ingredients; if a hazardous substance has no common name, the chemical name will be listed. Both names may appear on the label, as in this case. "Sodium Hypochlorite" is the chemical name. "Bleach" is the common name.

Name and Address of Manufacturer,Distributor, Packer or Seller

Description of Hazard

A description of the principal hazards involved in using the product must be included on the label. In this case, the product is an IRRITANT" to the skin, eyes and to the gastrointestinal system, if swallowed. Other words that may be used to describe the principal hazard in using other products may include "Vapor Harmful", "Flammable", "Corrosive", "Absorbed Through the Skin" and such.

Precautions

The label must have a statement of what to do to avoid the hazard.

Instructions for Safe Handling and Storage

First Aid Instructions, when necessary or appropriate The Statement, "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN."

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What Does "Natural" Really Mean on Food Labels?

Many consumers believe that "natural" products are better and healthier than others, but are often confused about what the label actually means. Now Consumer Reports is launching a campaign to ban the term, claiming it confuses and misleads shoppers.

In a new survey of 1,000 people by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, nearly 60 percent of people said they look for the term "natural" on food labels when they shop.

About two-thirds of people surveyed said they believe the term "natural" means that a processed food has no artificial ingredients, pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). But in fact, the FDA has not developed a strict definition of the term for food labels. The agency says it won't object to the claim "natural" as long as there are no artificial or synthetic ingredients in a particular product.

"Consumers are severely misled by the natural label," Urvashi Rangan, executive director of the Food Safety and Sustainability Center at Consumer Reports, told "CBS This Morning."

"With 'natural,' any manufacturer can pretty much stick it on their package," she said. "It doesn't mean very much."

"There is no formal definition" of the term, Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietician at the Cleveland Clinic, told CBS News. "I do think we have a gray area."

In the survey, nine out of 10 Americans said that foods containing GMOs should be labeled and meet safety standards established by the government.

The report also showed that people's understanding of the term "raised without antibiotics" varies. About one-third of people in the survey assumed incorrectly that no other drugs (besides antibiotics) were given to the animal used in food labeled as "raised without antibiotics."

So, is there a way for consumers to check if a particular processed food product is really as "natural" as they'd like?

Calling the manufacturer and asking is often the best way, Kirkpatrick said. And if the manufacturer says that the information is proprietary and the company cannot reveal the formula, this may not reflect well on the manufacturer's claims about how natural a product is, she said.

Kirkpatrick also points out that just because something is "natural" does not mean it's necessarily good for you. Products that are full of sugar and calories sometimes carry the label "natural" without being especially healthy.

She suggests a simple solution to the issue: avoid packaged foods whenever possible. If people cook with more whole foods instead of processed products, she says, they are less likely to have to deal with confusing labels.

"We should look at our own habits," Kirkpatrick said. "Best foods for you are the ones that have no claims."

Retrieved from : CBS News

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Confusion About Food Labels Leads to Waste, Possible Illnesses

Consumers often get confused by date labeling on food products, and end up either keeping spoiled food around too long, or throwing away perfectly good food unnecessarily -- costing us billions of dollars, experts say.

In new a survey by the public health and safety organization NSF International, researchers found that people have trouble understanding and differentiating between common food label terms such as "expiration date," "best if used by date" and "sell by date."

Consequently, almost half of Americans do not throw away food until they see mold or color changes. And 17 percent of Americans say they just toss food when it starts to smell.

Failing to discard food on time may result in exposure to pathogens such as salmonella or E. coli, Gina Nicholson, NSF International Global Client Director of Retail Food Services, told CBS News. Those contaminants are especially dangerous to children under 5, elderly people and those whose immunity has been compromised by illnesses such as cancer or HIV.

At the same time, the authors of a review paper published this week in the journal Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety stressed that the lack of understanding of different date labeling terms may in fact encourage people to throw food away too soon and therefore contribute to food waste that is already a significant problem in developed countries.

The authors called for increased collaboration between food manufacturers and regulatory agencies to provide a better and more uniform food labeling system.

"We are throwing away a third of our food (globally)," study author William Fisher, VP at the Institute of Food Technologists Science and Policy Initiatives, told CBS News, adding that confusion over product labeling certainly contributes to the extent of food waste.

In the U.S. alone, about 133 billion pounds of food -- almost a third of the total available at the retail and consumer level -- is wasted each year, according to 2010 figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. That translates into an estimated $161.6 billion in retail value.

So what do consumers need to know about date labels on food? Fisher explained the differences:

• "Sell by date" is most important for retailers, telling them when they should take a product off the shelves. However, it does not mean that the food is no longer safe to eat.
• "Expiration date" means a product should not be eaten after the date listed; throw it out.
• "Best if used by date" refers to the quality of the product, not its safety. In short, it means that the product will maintain its maximum quality until that date, but it can still be safe to eat for a certain amount of time (depending on the kind of product) after the date has passed.

Retrieved from : CBS News

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Nutritional Labelling

The nutritional fact labeling (also known as the nutrition information panel, and various other slight variations) is required on most pre-packaged foods in North America, United Kingdom and other countries. 

The Nutritional Labeling Act, initiated by Ministry of Health Malaysia in year 2003, states that food producers and importers are required to include a specific list of "nutrition facts" on product labels in a pre-defined format. The Ministry of Health Malaysia has amended the Food Regulations on 29 September 2005 to make nutrition labeling compulsory for certain foods, as well as regulate health and nutrition claims. 

The nutrients that must be declared on nutrition label are energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat. In addition, total sugars must also be declared for ready-to-drink beverages. In these regulations, ready-to-drink beverages include ready-to-drink soft drink, fruit and vegetable juices, ready-to-drink malted milk and flavored milk. They do not include alcoholic beverages.

MALAYSIA NUTRITIONAL LABEL

Where a claim is made regarding the amount or type of fatty acids, the amounts of all the four main types of fatty acids, namely saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and trans fatty acids shall be declared in the following form:

Source : MyTEST Lab

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