Food withdrawals increased dramatically in 2015 and a new EU directive came into force shortly before in December 2014. Is this a mere coincidence? We guess not.

The Food labelling EU regulations which requires allergens to be emphasized in the ingredient list on your food packaging, seems to be the cause for a majority of last year’s food withdrawals. A total of 96 products have been withdrawn due to failure of correct allergen disclosure in 2015. What can you do to avoid this? Digital Creative Packaging gives some helpful advice on the topic.

Why allergen disclosure is important

The purpose of the EU regulation clearly is to protect consumers’ health. The EU thus demands clear, comprehensive and legible labelling of foods, enabling consumers to make an informed choice. Especially those in need of a special diet have to be able to choose food products suitable for them. Imagine you have a nut allergy and crave a cereal bar. If the ingredient information on the back of the pack doesn’t provide proper allergen disclosure, you might end up eating a cereal bar with nuts. Needless to mention that this can seriously harm your health and even be fatal. By highlighting allergens on the pack, manufacturers make it easier for consumers to pick suitable food as they are less likely to overlook allergens in a small printed ingredient list.

The costs of incorrect food labelling

EU regulations are changing constantly and staying up-to-date can be quite challenging. But a small mistake in food labelling can cost your brand reputation and hundreds of thousands. You will need to withdraw your product and that comes with costs for transport, reimbursements of retailers, legal fees and so on. Not to mention the damage this can do to your customers’ health and loyalty. You definitely want to avoid that. See a few of this year’s product recalls in our infographic.

What to bare in mind for your food label

But how do you abide by EU regulations and create a correct label? As experts in this field, Digital Creative Packaging share some insights with you.

First of all, some information has to be stated on your packaging – there’s no way around it. These include a list of ingredients, a nutrition declaration and the country of origin. If you need further advice on mandatory food information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Special attention has yet to be given to any ingredient or processing aid, which can cause allergies or intolerances. If your product contains any of the ingredients below or products thereof, you must name them on your pack. Allergen disclosure is to be included in your list of ingredients.

Digital Creative Packaging understands allergen disclosure is a complex topic in the food industry. With our understanding of International, UK and EU regulations, we can check and amend your food labelling. Digital Creative Packaging gives you the confidence that your labels will be legal on shelf.

For our latest news and industry trends you can also follow us on twitter @createpackaging.