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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Food Labeling Requirement in Malaysia (Part 1 of 6)

1.       All labels shall be durably marked on the material of the package or on material firmly attached to the package.

1.1    However if a package is made of clear transparent material, then the label can be placed directly inside the package provided:

§  the food in the package is not ready for direct consumption or

§  If it is ready for direct consumption, food is to be completely enclosed in its natural shell or pod or interior wrapper.

1.2    For legibility, specific requirements for font size, style, contrasting colour of letterings have been prescribed in the Regulations for the labels.

(e.g font size in no smaller than 10 point lettering for most particulars; font size in no smaller than 4 point lettering for information on ingredients and nutritional labeling; no smaller than 2 point lettering for very small packages, etc.)

2.       Language to be used for information required on the label depends on the country of origin as follows:

2.1    Products of Malaysia

§  Shall be labelled in Bahasa Malaysia AND may include translation in any other language.

2.2    All other imported foods

§  Shall be labelled in Bahasa Malaysia OR English AND may include translation in any other language.

3.       Important particulars expected to be on the label are as follows:

3.1    A description of the food containing the common name of its principal ingredients, for eg. “Sweet Corn Cream Style”, “Beef patties”.

§  In the case of food product being a mixed and blended food, the label shall indicate the contents are mixed or blended, for eg. “Mixed vegetables”.

§  where the food contains beef or pork, or its derivatives, or lard, a statement as to the presence in that food of such beef or pork, or its derivatives, or lard, in the form—
"CONTAINS  (state  whether  beef  or  pork,  or  its  derivatives,  or  lard,  as  the case may be)"
or in any other words to this effect;

§  where  the  food  contains  added  alcohol,  a  statement  as  to  the  presence  in thatfood  of  such  alcohol,  in  capital  bold-faced  lettering  of  a  non-serif character not smaller than 6 point, in the form—

"CONTAINS ALCOHOL"

 or in any other words to this effect;

*All information on the labeling requirements of food sold in Malaysia gleaned from the Malaysia Food Regulations 1985 and Food Irradiation Regulations 2011 (as at March 2013).

Source : Malaysian Food Canners' Association (MFCA)

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