Blog Post

Food labels: why small print matters

Our Lady of Greens • 4 October 2024

Reading the label on the food that we eat is probably the simplest, most effective thing we can do to improve our diet. It can be tricky as we might not be familiar with all the terminology and the impact of the different values. To help you make the right decision next time that you stand in the supermarket aisle wondering what to buy, we are looking at labels and what they really mean.

Research suggests that most people in the UK eat and drink too many calories, fat sugar and salt. Pre-packaged foods bought in Supermarkets would include all the relevant nutritional information on the back, side and sometimes front of the package.

 

Nutrition information labels include the amount of energy in kilojoules (KJ) and kilocalories (kcal), usually referred to as calories.

They also contain information on fat, saturates (saturated fat), carbohydrates, sugars, protein and salt. They may also include other nutrients, like fibre. All nutrition information is provided per 100 grams or per 100 millilitres and sometimes per portion of the food or drink.

 

Guidelines for fat, salt and sugar consumption

 

Fat, salt and sugar are three components that we all need in some degree in our diets but that when eaten in high amounts can become a threat to our health.

 

There are guidelines available about how much is high or low in terms of fat, salt and sugar that can be compared against the information on the label of a particular pre-packed food product.

 

🥫Total fat

High: more than 17.5g of fat per 100g
Low: 3g of fat or less per 100g

🥫Saturated fat

High: more than 5g of saturated fat per 100g
Low: 1.5g of saturated fat or less per 100g

🥫Sugars

High: more than 22.5g of total sugars per 100g
Low: 5g of total sugars or less per 100g

🥫Salt

High: more than 1.5g of salt per 100g (or 0.6g sodium)
Low: 0.3g of salt or less per 100g (or 0.1g sodium)

 

Colour coding nutritional values

 

Sometime the information related to fat, sugars and salt levels will be at the front of the package colour coded in red, amber and green depending on the specific value. Red means high, amber means medium and green means low.

 

This is a very consumer friendly method as it tells you at a glance whether that food is healthy. In general, a product that has all or mostly green on the label will be a better choice than those reds and ambers.

 

Fat, salt and sugar are three components that we all need in some degree in our diets but that when eaten in high amounts can become a threat to our health

 

Ingredients list

 

By law, pre-packed food products must also include a list of ingredients with allergens -substances that can cause an allergic reaction in some people- highlighted. Ingredients must be listed in descending order of weight, with the main ingredients coming first.

 

When a product claims to be of a particular flavour, it will also include the percentage of that ingredient eg. strawberry jam will need to include the percentage of strawberries used to make the product.

 

A simple list of ingredients can tell us a lot about the product just by looking at it including whether their main ingredients are fresh or processed, or rich in fat or sugar.

 

Food additives and E-numbers

 

Food additives are substances added to food to enhance its flavour, texture, appearance and shelf life, or other qualities.

 

Although not all food additives are listed as E-numbers, some do. E-numbers are codes assigned to food additives approved by the authorities to regulate its use eg. E621 corresponds to monosodium glutamate or MSG.

 

Food additives and E-numbers are not inherently bad,

but their safety depends on the type of additive, the quantity consumed, and individual sensitivities

 

Some of the main purposes to use food additives:

 

🥫Preservatives: extend the shelf life of food by preventing spoilage from bacteria, fungi, or oxidation (eg. Sodium Benzoate, Nitrates).

🥫Colouring agents: improve the colour of food to make it more appealing.

🥫Flavour enhancers: Intensify the natural flavour of food eg. MSG in savoury snacks.

🥫Sweeteners: add sweetness with or without calories eg. Saccharin or AAspartame in Diet Coke.

🥫Thickeners and stabilizers: improve the texture and consistency of food eg. Xanthan in mayonnaise or pectin and agar in jelly.

🥫Emulsifiers: help blend ingredients like oil and water that normally don’t mix eg. Lecithin in salad dresssing.

🥫Antioxidants: prevent fats and oils in food from becoming rancid and protect from oxidative damage eg. Bitamin E.

🥫Acids and acidity regulators: control the PH level to maintain taste and safety eg. Citric Acid or Lactic Acid.

 

Are food additives safe?

 

Food additives and E-numbers are not inherently bad, but their safety depends on the type of additive, the quantity consumed, and individual sensitivities. Although most food additives are safe when consumed in moderation, these are some of the concerns associated with their consumption:

 

Health effects: some synthetic additives have been linked to negative health effects in certain individuals, especially when consumed in large quantities. For example, some people have sensitivities to artificial food colourings or preservatives like sulphites, which can cause allergic reactions or symptoms like headaches or skin rashes.

Possible long-term risks: there are concerns about the cumulative effects of long-term consumption of certain additives. For instance, some research suggests that excessive consumption of additives like monosodium glutamate (MSG), certain artificial sweeteners, or nitrates could have negative health impacts, although these effects are still being studied.

Hyperactivity in children: some studies have linked artificial food colourings to hyperactivity in children, leading to calls for caution in their use, particularly in products for kids.

 

Tips for a healthier diet

 

On average, many highly processed foods have between 5 to 25 additives, but the total number can be higher, especially for complex products. Reducing your intake of these types of food can help minimize your additive exposure. By eating a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods, you can also reduce potential health risks including, high cholesterol and blood pressure and heart disease.

 

Read the small print on the labels. Look for products with shorter ingredient lists and fewer unfamiliar chemical names. In addition, follow reference intakes or guidelines included in nutrition labels about the approximate amount of particular nutrients and energy required for a healthy diet. And overall, don’t forget to enjoy your food!

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