China’s GB7718-2011 Labeling Standard Now in Force: Prepackaged Food Additives Must Carry Plain-Language Names

Effective April 20, China’s mandatory national standard for prepackaged foods—the National Food Safety Standard: General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB7718-2011)—formally entered into force, aiming to bring order to the country’s chaotic food-labeling landscape. The standard requires labels to indicate the food name, ingredient list, net content and specifications, and the names of the producer and operator, among other details. It specifically requires all food additives to be conspicuously marked on the label and to use “plain-language names” so consumers can understand them. Reporters surveyed bread, milk, soymilk, soy products and other foods in several Beijing supermarkets and found that food companies generally describe additives in specific terms. Still, the wide variety of additives worries consumers.

According to reports, the new standard fully considers how the original General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB7718-2004) was implemented, refines the specific food-labeling requirements under the Food Safety Law and its implementing regulations, and improves the standard’s scientific basis and operability. For example, it requires ingredients to be clearly stated, additive labeling to be more accessible, and shelf life to be calculated from the individual item that expires earliest; its labeling rules are stricter overall.

An official from the China National Food Industry Association told reporters that food labels are a vehicle for conveying product information to consumers and a direct and effective way for shoppers to learn about products. In recent years, however, unclear food labels have caused problems from time to time, and consumers’ inability to understand label information has affected purchasing to some degree. The new standard’s implementation will play a strong regulatory role.

The new standard modifies how food additives are labeled: they may be shown by specific name, or by functional class name together with the additive’s specific name or code (INS number). Mandatory label content under the new standard includes the food name, ingredient list, net content and specifications, the producer’s and operator’s name, address and contact details, production date and shelf life, storage conditions, food production license number, product standard code, and other required information. Compared with the old standard, it adds contact information for producers and distributors and sets detailed rules for names and addresses, requiring the name and address of a legally registered producer capable of bearing responsibility for product quality and safety. This enhances traceability and gives stronger assurance of prepackaged food quality.

In addition, the new standard requires ingredients to be listed in descending order by the amount added when the food is manufactured or processed. It also lists eight categories of allergenic substances and encourages companies to label them voluntarily to alert consumers; for allergens beyond those eight categories, producers may choose whether to label them. The new standard also adds a health-food requirement: “content that indicates or implies a role in preventing or treating disease shall not be labeled.” Meanwhile, non-health foods must not expressly or implicitly claim health benefits.

Reporters visited several supermarkets in Beijing and examined foods such as bread, milk, soymilk and soy products, finding that food companies are basically able to describe additives specifically. However, the wide variety of additives worries consumers.

Additive labeling moves toward “plain language”

Dong Jinshi, executive vice president of the Food Packaging Association, said the new standard requires food ingredients to be clearly declared, additive labeling to be readily understandable, and shelf life to be calculated from the individual item that expires earliest. He noted that in the past it was enough to state that a product contained a colorant or thickener, but now that is no longer allowed—the specific colorant name must be labeled. Taking the food additive tartrazine as an example, he said, three forms may be used: 1) tartrazine; 2) colorant (102); 3) colorant (tartrazine). Labeling it only as “colorant” is not permitted.

Too many additive varieties raise consumer concern

A reporter visited several supermarkets yesterday and found that the vast majority of food labels describe additives relatively specifically; for example, some foods add parentheses after “additives” or “colorants” to give the exact name. But some foods skirt the rules—labeling “calcium propionate,” for instance, without explaining what “calcium propionate” is.

As more additives “appear” on labels, consumers have expressed concern. Take ham sausage: a single sausage may contain 10 or more additives. “With so many additives, even though we can’t really understand them, we’re truly uneasy—are we eating ham sausage or additives?” one consumer said.

Dong Jinshi advised that consumers should try to buy foods with fewer additives.

— Source: China Packaging Network (pack.cn); original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-362103.html