Nutrition labelling on prepackaged food is essential but, sadly, shoppers' expectation of legibility is not always met.
A legible nutrition label appropriately marked would help consumers make informed choices. But the reverse is also true: an illegible label would effectively thwart the government efforts in introducing mandatory nutrition labelling in 2010.
Concerns over the legibility of nutrition labels have led to a joint study between the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) and the Consumer Council recently.
The joint study seeks to assess how closely traders have followed the recommendations set out in the Trade Guidelines on Preparation of Legible Food Label (Trade Guidelines), issued by the CFS in 2012.
The Food and Drug (Composition and Labelling) Regulations stipulate that, unless otherwise exempted, prepackaged food shall be legibly marked and labeled with a list of required nutrients.
The study focused on samples of relatively small-size pre-packaged food and drink products including biscuits and crispy snacks, canned luncheon meats and canned sardines, breads and cakes, yoghurts and milk, non-alcoholic and milk beverages.
Out of a total of 100 samples, as many as 63 samples were judged to be unsatisfactory failing to conform to the legibility recommendations of the Trade Guidelines, with most (51) falling short of the size requirements of the letters or/and characters on the labels.
The Trade Guidelines recommend, for English letters, a font size of at least 1.2 mm (in general) in height (as measured in the lower case of the letter x) or at least 0.8 mm (for small package of a total surface area of less than 400 cm square as well as package with more than one language used on the label), and for Chinese characters a comparable size as English or at least 1.8 mm in height.
In one extreme case, the English letters were measured in height at barely 0.48 mm and the Chinese characters 0.91 mm - which is virtually impossible to read without the aid of a magnifying glass.
Besides font sizes, which were measured by the CFS Food Research Laboratory, the labels were also evaluated by CFS assessment panel on other key elements of legibility requirements i.e. good contrast, sufficient spacing, quality printing, and use of non-reflective surface.
Non-conformity to the Trade Guidelines recommendations was found in: contrast (9 samples), spacing (5), printing (15), and non-reflective printing surface (2).
The problem of legibility was more serious for those 31 nutrition labels which were affixed on the package by stickers, notably, in font size (19 samples or 61%), spacing (5 or 16%), and printing (12 or 39%). The affixed labels, however, fared better in terms of contrast.
Although not covered in the Trade Guidelines, the position of a label may also affect the ease of reference. The nutrition labels of 2 samples were found to be poorly positioned.
The findings of the study corresponded closely with those of an 18-member panel of consumers enlisted to give their perspectives and comments on the labels. Out of 82 samples assessed by the consumer panel, 51 samples were considered, by the majority of panel members, to be in need of improvement particularly on the font size by some consumers.
In the case of 13 samples, the need for improvement was voted unanimously by the entire consumer panel. 6 other samples which conformed to the Trade Guidelines requirements, were nonetheless considered in need of improvement in font size.
The food industry is strongly urged to follow the Trade Guidelines, and where space is available, to enhance legibility by printing larger nutrition labels to facilitate consumers, especially those with weaker eyesight, in reading and benefiting from the information to make informed choices.
The Consumer Council reserves all its right (including copyright) in respect of CHOICE magazine and Online CHOICE (https://echoice.consumer.org.hk/).
- 2014.02.17