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Food labelling, ingredients and legislation
Helping you and your team to be compliant
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The UFS Food Labelling Guide 2012 is published by: Unilever South Africa (Pty) Ltd. 15 Nollsworth Crescent, La Lucia Ridge La Lucia Ridge Office Estate La Lucia 4051 www.ufs.com
Copyright Š 2012 This work is the property of Unilever South Africa (Pty) Ltd. This work is protected under the Berne Convention. In terms of the Copyright Act 98 of 1998, no part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from Unilever South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information published in this work is accurate, Unilever South Africa (Pty) Ltd, the editors, publishers and printers take no responsibility for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of the reliance upon the information contained therein.
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Symbols and logos Packaging and labels communicate how we use, transport, recycle or dispose of the package or product. The packaging label can also communicate important properties or information about the product enclosed. Marketers use labelling to encourage potential buyers to purchase the product. Many types of symbols or logos that appear on product packaging are nationally and internationally standardised. These symbols and logos are a means of product certification and communicate certain aspects of the product pertaining to consumer use, safety or dietary requirements. Symbol programs have been instituted by companies to promote their products and provide easily understandable information to aid people in their food purchases. However not all company programs are consistent with one another, which makes deciphering symbols and logos difficult for the end consumer. This chapter will demystify the product symbol or logo for you, making it easier to make better product choices, positively impacting your menu and your guests’ dining experience.
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Chapter 6 Symbols and logos
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Kosher labelling
Kosher symbols are registered trademarks of kosher certification organizations, and can only be placed on a food label with the organization’s permission. Kosher certification agencies examine the ingredients used to make the food, supervise the process by which the food is prepared, and periodically inspect the processing facilities to make sure that kosher standards are maintained. Different kosher certifying agencies tend to follow different kosher certification standards, some more strict and others more lenient. The two kosher symbols used on Unilever Food Solutions packaging are detailed here.
Halaal labelling
The word Halaal is Arabic for “permissible� and is a term that governs the items and foodstuff permissible for Muslims to use and consume in their daily lives and in accordance with Muslim dietary laws. Various governing bodies such as the MJC (Muslim Judicial Council) Halaal Trust have assumed the duty to supervise, investigate and watch over all foods. in order to ascertain and ensure whether they may or may not be consumed by Muslims. Registered Halaal Accredited producers may display a Halaal logo on their packaging and advertising material.
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Chapter 6 Symbols and logos
Heart Mark – Heart & Stroke Foundation South Africa
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSF) plays a leading role in the fight against preventable heart disease and stroke. As part of a broader nutrition education initiative, the HSF has the Heart Mark endorsement programme, which gives food producers and manufacturers the opportunity to use, under licence, the Heart Mark for approved products. For more information contact Gareth@heartfoundation.co.za
Suitable for vegetarians
This symbol is on packaging for people who want only vegetarian products. By putting this symbol or similar ones on a product, the manufacturer declares that the food packed is free from any non – vegetarian items. Please refer to Dietary requirements section in this tool for further information on vegetarian diets.
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Eco-friendly labelling An eco-label on a product provides surety to the consumer that the product has been produced in accordance with certain environmental standards. Dolphin friendly
There is no official ‘dolphin friendly’ packaging label in South Africa. Products labelled with dolphin friendly labels are supposedly caught without causing harm to dolphins, but these fishing methods may not necessarily apply to harm done to other marine life species such as turtles or birds. Using dolphin friendly labelled products should be done at the operators discretion.
WWF & SASSI
WWF-SASSI (the WWF Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative) aims to increase the awareness of seafood consumers around different species of fish, discourage them from choosing illegal species, and guide them towards more ocean-friendly choices. As a consumer awareness programme, SASSI is neither an eco-label nor an endorsement of specific products or businesses, but advocates that consumers look for the MSC eco-label for third-party independent assurance of sustainability in wild-capture fisheries. Because SASSI supports the MSC as the leading marine eco-label, MSC-labelled products are automatically placed on the SASSI green list. For more information, visit www.wwf.org.za/sassi
Marine Stewardship Council certified
The Marine Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organisation set up to help transform the seafood market to a sustainable basis. The MSC runs the only certification and ecolabelling programme for wild-capture fisheries consistent with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (UN FAO) Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries. When used on seafood products or menus the blue MSC ecolabel indicates full traceability back to a fishery that has been certified against the MSC’s environmental standard for sustainable fishing. WWF-SASSI recognizes the MSC as the world’s leading ecolabel for wild-caught seafood. For more information refer to: www.msc.org
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Chapter 6 Symbols and logos
Proudly South African
The “buy local” campaign The Proudly South African Campaign encourages the Nation to make personal and organisational contributions to economic growth and prosperity in South Africa, thereby increasing employment opportunities and reinforcing national pride. The qualifying criteria for Proudly SA membership are: Local content At least 50% of the cost of production must be incurred in South Africa and there must be ‘substantial transformation’ of any imported materials. High quality product The product or service must be of a proven high quality. Fair labour practice The company must comply with labour legislation and adhere to fair labour practices. Environmental standards The company must be environmentally responsible and adhere to production processes that are environmentally friendly and acceptable.
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Internationally recognised eco-labelling Fairtrade certified
Fairtrade certification is a product certification system designed to allow people to identify products that meet agreed environmental, labour and developmental standards. Overseen by a standardsetting body, Fairtrade International (FLO), and a certification body, FLO-CERT, the system involves independent auditing of producers to ensure the agreed standards are met. Members commit to biodiversity-enhancing practices, ensuring children’s rights, supporting safe working conditions and other fair-trade measures, and documenting fairtrade labour policies. For more information on Fairtrade in South Africa visit www.fairtradelabel.org.za
Recycling
Recyclable packaging material. It signifies that the packaging material is recyclable, thus helping to protect the environment.
POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) is a material widely used for packaging, especially drinks containers. It is 90% recyclable and the symbol opposite reminds people of this fact.
Clean City symbol
Keep your city clean. This symbol instructs people to throw the packaging into a dustbin and not to litter, to protect the environment.
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FAQs Below are some frequently asked questions from a chef’s perspective concerning symbols and logos found on pack.
Is this product certified Kosher by a credible authority? • Products that have been certified as Kosher can only be labelled with the kosher symbols with permission of a kosher certification organisation. • Kosher certification agencies follow different kosher certification standards, some more strict and others more lenient. They examine the ingredients used to make the food, supervise the process by which the food is prepared, and periodically inspect the processing facilities to make sure that kosher standards are maintained. • In South Africa the two kosher symbols used on Unilever Food Solutions packaging are:
What is the difference between Milchik and Parev? • Milchik is a kosher product that contains milk solids, whereas Parev is a kosher product that contains no milk solids.
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Chapter 6 Symbols and logos
Is this product certified Halaal by a credible authority? • The word Halaal is Arabic for permissible and is a term that governs the items and foodstuff permissible for Muslims to use and consume in their daily lives and in accordance with Muslim dietary laws. • Various governing bodies such as the MJC (Muslim Judicial Council) Halaal Trust and SANHA (South African National Halaal Authority) have assumed the duty to supervise, investigate and watch over all foods etc. in order to ascertain whether they may or may not be consumed by Muslims.
• Registered Halaal Accredited producers may display a Halaal logo on their packaging and advertising material. From a consumer point of view, consumers will have the assurance and guarantee that all products bearing the logo are: Halaal compliant in accordance to Islamic (Shari’ah) Law and MJC Halaal Trust Standards. • They will know that products are monitored on a regular basis by qualified Halaal monitors and auditors; continuously being tested to meet the demand for the production of high quality food products and Halaal compliancy; comply and adhere with every aspect of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) programme; hygiene standards as recommended in the International Code of Practice – General Principles of Food Hygiene. • Consumers are guaranteed that all raw material / ingredients found in MJCHT Halaal certified products originate from a Halaal source and are investigated by qualified Halaal Auditors.
Can any products be labelled with the Heart Mark? • Companies wishing to make use of the Heart Mark need to have their product(s) tested by an independent laboratory. When the product(s) comply with the established criteria, for fat (saturated and trans fats), cholesterol, sodium, added sugar and fibre (where applicable), the company can enter into a formal licensing agreement with the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
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How do I know if this product packaging is recyclable? • Look carefully at the packaging of products you purchase. Products where the packaging shows either of the green symbols below is recyclable. All packaging with the PET logo reminds consumers that the packaging is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and is 90% recyclable.
Is this product locally produced using local ingredients? • If a product is locally produced and the manufacturer is a member of the Proudly South African organisation, the product or service will display the following logo:
• In order to qualify for Proudly SA membership, products or services must fulfil the following criteria: • Local content At least 50% of the cost of production must be incurred in South Africa and there must be ‘substantial transformation’ of any imported materials. • High quality product The product or service must be of a proven high quality. • Fair labour practice The company must comply with labour legislation and adhere to fair labour practices. • Environmental standards The company must be environmentally responsible and adhere to production processes that are environmentally friendly and acceptable.
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Data sources The Consumer Protection Act South African Government Online, 2012. What is the Consumer protection Act. [Online] http:// www.info.gov.za [Retrieved on 10 October 2012]
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ. do?uri=OJ:L:2008:354:0016:0033:en:PDF COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 1129/2011 of 11 November 2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing
Eldin Food Consulting, 2012. Your Specialist in
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The Vegetarian Society, 2012. Food – Help for
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Storage Colorado State University-Extension, 2012.Food Storage for Safety and Quality. [Online] http:// www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09310.htm [Retrieved 04 December 2012] Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service and Oregonian Food Day, 2012. Food Storage Chart - Food Storage Guidelines – Shelf Life of Food - Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart. [Online] http://whatscookingamerica.net/
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Storage continued... Answers Corporation, 2012. Is it safe to eat expired canned food? [Online] http://wiki.answers.com/Q/ Is_it_safe_to_eat_expired_canned_food [Retrieved 04 December 2012] University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2012. Refrigerated and Freezer Storage. [Online] http://food.unl.edu/ web/safety/refrigerator-freezer. [Retrieved 04 December 2012] State Government of Victoria, 2012. Food safety – storage. [Online] http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/ bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Food_safety_storage. [Retrieved 04 December 2012] Still Tasty, 2012 . Three ways to defrost food safely. [Online] http://www.stilltasty.com/articles/view/9. [Retrieved 05 December 2012] Favorite Freezer Foods, 2008-2011. Can you refreeze food that thawed? [Online] http://www. favoritefreezerfoods.com/refreeze-food.html [Retrieved 05 December 2012] State Government of Victoria, 2012. Food safety when cooking. [Online]. http://www.betterhealth. vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Food_safety_ when_cooking. [Retrieved 05 December 2012] CBS Interactive, 2012. How long does fresh fish keep in the fridge? [Online] http://chowhound. chow.com/topics/276180 [Retrieved 05 December 2012]
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