4 replies to this topic

[Martinblue]

Dear All,

I hope everyone have nice long holidays.

Does any one know what is the minimum size (text) for best before date print on prepacked food?

We pack 25g packets of bakery products.

Please share your expertise.

Regards

Martinblue

Edited by Martinblue, 05 January 2012 - 01:17 AM.

[Philip @ Safefood 360°]

Hi Martinblue,

This subject was discussed on the IFSQN before in 2008 and is probably due an update.

According to the FDA’s nutritional labelling and ingredients labelling guidelines the absolute minimum font size on a food label should be 6-point or 1/16th of an Inch (based on the lower case “o”).

In the UK The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 contain no requirements as to the size and type of letters to be used in food labelling. However the FDF have highlighted the recent passing of new EU food labelling legislation which will require a minimum font size for mandatory information such as the durability date.

Regulation (EC) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers was published on 22 November 2011 in the EU Official Journal. The new regulation aims at ensuring that mandatory food information is provided in a clear and legible way. For that purpose it establishes that the minimum font size that may be used on food labels is 1.2 mm for the x-height and 0.9 mm for containers with an area less than 80 cm. The new food labelling rules will become applicable from the 13th of December 2014.

If you can stick with a common typeface and a point size of 6 or above then you should be playing it reasonably safe. If you can squeeze an 8-point for the BBD on your label then then this would be even better, not least for basic legibility.

Hope this helps.

Philip.

[Martinblue]

Hi Philip,

Thanks

for the your comments it was really helpful and greatly appreciated

Please correct me if I am wrong. This minimum x-height rule applies not only to best before/use by date but also to all mandatory informations e.g name of product, list of ingredients, packer/manufacturer address etc on the label.

Regards

Martinblue

[Philip @ Safefood 360°]

Please correct me if I am wrong. This minimum x-height rule applies not only to best before/use by date but also to all mandatory informations e.g name of product, list of ingredients, packer/manufacturer address etc on the label.

Martinblue,

I have yet to come across a food labelling guidance document where the ‘Durability Date’ is treated any differently to the rest of the labelling requirements.

In the case of the new EU guidelines, which will affect UK processors/packers, the minimum font specifications apply to all of the following mandatory components;

• the name of the food;
• the list of ingredients;
• any ingredient or processing aid causing allergies or intolerances used in the manufacture or preparation of a food and still present in the finished product, even if in an altered form;
• the quantity of certain ingredients or categories of ingredients;
• the net quantity of the food;
• the date of minimum durability or the ‘use by’ date;
• any special storage conditions and/or conditions of use;
• the name or business name and address of the food business operator referred to in Article 8(1);
• the country of origin or place of provenance where provided for in Article 26;
• instructions for use where it would be difficult to make appropriate use of the food in the absence of such instructions;
• with respect to beverages containing more than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol, the actual alcoholic strength by volume;
• a nutrition declaration.

Note that Annex X of the EU Guidelines is quite prescriptive on how the durability date should be constructed so it would be worth giving that a quick read ahead of any further amendments to your labelling.

Philip.

[GMO]

As far as I understand it, the new EU legislation will require a minimum font height but that's not a legal requirement until 2014. It is worth considering though that you might want to keep the same packaging for more than 2 years so probably worth planning now (if the BBD window is restricted in size).