2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Research has shown that food labels do not show all product information. It also turned out that 60 percent of consumers, even if they read the label, do not understand what they read.
Manufacturers and traders have found a way to simultaneously conceal some of the truth about food ingredients and comply with labeling rules in the country.
Most of the information is incomplete or written in a way that misleads users.
The information misleads customers that they are buying completely harmless goods, which is not the case.
A study finds that more and more people are respected in product labels, but 60% of customers admit that they do not understand the information they read.
Producers and traders of food and beverages are obliged to put a label in Bulgarian on the products offered. It must contain the name of the product, the ingredients, their quantity, durability, storage conditions, net quantity and the manufacturer.
The inaccuracy of the labels starts with the E-s, which are mentioned up to one in the labels, but it is not explained to which category they belong - sweetener, colorant, preservative, as well as what side effects can lead to a healthy body.
For example, aspartame should be mentioned that it can cause allergic reactions, and gluten can cause autoimmune disease.
Statistics show that one in three hundred people between the ages of 30 and 45 develops gluten intolerance, which leads to atrophy of the lining of the small intestine.
Another misconception of manufacturers is speculation with the word whole grain for bread and some pasta.
A study shows that most of the "whole grain foods" in the home windows are colored to achieve the natural color of wholemeal flour.
Another scam that is most often used for meat products is the use of the phrase - low fat, and nowhere in the product is it explained how low their content is.
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New Food Labels Worry Manufacturers
In about two months, the new legislation on food labels will enter into force, and some producers are worried that they will be able to comply with European Commission requirements. The directors of several municipal children's kitchens are in a panic because they are not sure that they will be able to comply with all the labeling requirements imposed on them by the Commission.
Introduce New Rules For Food Labels
From next year, food manufacturers will be required to write down the nutritional value of each product, as well as all additives and enhancers used in it. Buyers will see in tables the energy value of the food - fats, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, salt and other important ingredients.
Colored Food Labels Will Warn Us Of Harmful Ingredients
Labels in green, yellow and red should be affixed to foods to warn consumers if they are high in harmful ingredients. This was announced by the Active Consumers Association. Six global companies have announced that they are setting up a working group to develop this proposal.
Consumers Want Traffic Lights On Food Labels
Food producers in Bulgaria should indicate on the labels the composition of fats, saturated fats, salt and sugar on the "traffic light principle", called by the association "Active Consumers". The association insists that if the respective ingredient is in a low quantity compared to the daily needs of the human body, it should be colored green.
