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Labelling of Food
The Labelling of Food Order 1953 requires that foodstuffs should have informative
labelling which does not mislead the purchaser. Generally all prepacked foods should
have on the label or wrapper the name and address of the packer or labeller or altertively
a trade mark with the words "Registered Trade Mark". There should also be a
list of ingredients.
A total of 541 visits were made to premises concerning the Order and 2,163 labels
were examined to verify the correctness of their claims.
A larger number than usual of misleading labels was dealt with during the past
year and the following are some of the more interesting cases.
Brewer's Yeast
A claim for the presence of vitamins was made on the label but no quantitative
statement printed with it.
Beetroot Juice
Extravagant claims regarding vitamin and mineral contents were not accompanied
by any quantitative statement of vitamin content. The claim regarding mineral content
was not justified.
Ice Cream
An illustration on a rather expensive ice cream pack showing whole strawberries was
considered to be misleading and the company concerned agreed to its withdrawal.
Toothpaste
A claim on a toothpaste tube and packet that the use of the toothpaste would prevent
and treat scurvy was regarded as misleading and false and the manufacturer agreed to its
removal.
Slewed Steak in Gravy
The total meat content of a can was found to be satisfactory but half the meat was in
a shredded condition and completely unlike the illustration of chunks on the label. The
packers on being approached immediately agreed to a new label for the can showing
fewer chunks.
Samples of canned fruit salad, wholemeal biscuits, fine oatmeal, milk powder,
yoghourt, chewing gum and sausages were also found to have omissions or errors in
their labelling.
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