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What information should appear on unpackaged foods?
Food can be marketed and purchased packaged and unpackaged. In this post we will define what are those unpacked foods, what requirements the European Regulation requires to indicate about these products and how to provide such information. First of all unpackaged foods are those that:
- They are packed at the time of purchase at the request of the final consumer
- They are served in bars, cafes and restaurants
- They are supplied unpackaged to collectivities
- they are sold in bulk to the final consumer
The member countries of the European Union (EU), according to European Regulation 1169/2011, must indicate with obligation since 2011 what type of allergens contain unpackaged foods. However, these countries can create internal standards to indicate other information they consider. These requirements have increased on the part of the EU since 2015 when they established that unpackaged foods should show other information in addition to indicating allergens.
What information should unpackaged foods contain?
Foods that are presented unpackaged and foods packaged at retail locations at the request of the consumer must indicate:
- The denomination of the foodstuff,
- amount of an ingredient or category of ingredients,
- alcoholic degree in alcoholic beverages with graduation greater than 1.2%,
- and other requirements that are established in the food regulations for this type of sale.
The food packaged by the owners of the retail trade for immediate sale in the establishment or establishments of their property must indicate:
- The denomination of the foodstuff,
- list of ingredients,
- amount of an ingredient or category of ingredients,
- the net quantity of the foodstuff,
- the date of minimum durability or expiration date,
- the special conservation conditions and/or conditions of use.
- the name or business name and address of the packer,
- the country of origin or place of provenance when this is provided,
- the instructions for use if it is difficult to make proper use of the foodstuff in the absence of such instructions
- and the volumetric alcoholic strength in beverages that have more than 1.2% by volume of alcohol.
How to display information on unpackaged foods
The aforementioned information must be presented on a container or on a label attached to the article, but there are exceptions. When the sale is made under the modality of sale with the seller or in self-service regime -as is the case of fruits, vegetables, tubers or dried fruits-, such information may appear on a poster close to the article, except for the Minimum duration and expiration date. If you have any questions about the information that should indicate your food products, please contact us.