Guidance on nutrition information requirements
Having a nutrition declaration on prepacked foods becomes mandatory from 13 December 2016.
There are certain foods exempted from the requirement to display nutrition information. Details are provided in Annex 5 to EU FIC.
Foods which provide nutrition information on a voluntary basis or which make nutrition or health claim on the label, have been required to provide nutrition information in the prescribed format set out in FIC since 13 December 2014.
When providing nutrition information FIC requires that the declaration consists of:
(a) The energy value and
(b) The amounts of fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt
The content of the mandatory nutrition declaration may be supplemented with an indication of the amounts of one or more of the following:
(f) Any of the vitamins or minerals listed in point 1 of Part A of Annex XIII to EU FIC, and present in significant amounts as defined in point 2 of Part A of Annex XIII to FIC
Repeating Nutrition Information on the Front of Pack
Where the mandatory nutrition information is declared on the label, certain nutrients may be repeated in the ‘principal field of vision’, i.e. the front of pack. This repeated information is a voluntary measure but where a food business chooses to provide this additional declaration, only the following information can be provided:
- Energy only or
- Energy along with fat, saturates, sugar and salt
This repeated information may be provided:
- Per 100g/ml only
- Per 100g/ml and per portion or
- On a per portion basis only
When providing this ‘Front of Pack’ information Energy must always be indicated per 100g/ml as a minimum.
Presentation of Nutrition Information
Nutrition information must be presented in tabular format with the numbers aligned. Where space does not permit, the declaration may appear in linear format. The energy value must be expressed in Kilo Joules (kJ) and Kilo Calories (kcal) and the amount of the nutrients must be expressed in grams (g).
All elements of the nutrition declaration must be included in the same field of vision. They must be presented together in a clear format and, where appropriate, in the order of presentation provided for in Annex XV to EU FIC.
The nutrition declaration must be expressed per 100 g/ml, using the measurement units specified in Annex XV to EU FIC. When provided, the declaration on vitamins and minerals must in addition to this form of expression, be expressed as a percentage of the reference intakes set out in point 1 of Part A of Annex XIII to EU FIC in relation to per 100 g or per 100 ml.
Calculation of Nutrient Values
The legislation allows for various methods of calculating the nutrient values. It does not necessarily require laboratory analysis and it may be possible for a food business operator to calculate the values themselves depending on the type of product.
The declared values in the nutrition table are average values* and must be based on:
- the manufacturer's analysis of the food
- a calculation from the known or actual average values of the ingredients used; or
- a calculation from generally established and accepted data
*The nutrient values are average values to take into account the natural variation in foodstuffs due to, for example, seasonality or supplier differences. However, there is EU guidance on the permitted tolerances for nutrient values which should be consulted.
The nutrient values must be for the food as sold. However, where appropriate the information may relate to the food after preparation, provided that sufficiently detailed preparation instructions are given and the information relates to the food as prepared for consumption.
Conversion factors for the calculation of the energy value are given in Annex XIV of EU FIC
European Commission guidance on fibre analysis
It has been prepared to provide guidance to member states' enforcement authorities and food business operators on the methods of analysis for determination of the fibre content declared on a label with respect to the nutrition labelling or declaration. Further information is available under 'External sites'.