Food Labels: Safety & Other Requirements 

Have you ever wondered what goes into creating a food label? Food labels are not just for appearance; they are important for sharing key product information and keeping consumers safe. From displaying nutritional information to including allergen warnings and required regulations, labels help customers make informed choices.

Let’s explore food labelling together.

What Is a Food Label?

A food label is a tag or printed material that is applied to a food package. It provides important information to consumers. In Canada, food labels are regulated by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Also, all the food labels must follow the regulations of the FDA. These organizations ensure that the information on food products is accurate and reliable.

Common Elements Required on Food Labels:

• Nutrition Facts Label: This essential component includes calories, fats, sugars, and proteins. It will give consumers a clear picture of the nutritional value. This is often seen as a Nutritional Fact Table (NFT) on the label.
• Allergen Warnings: For safety, labels usually indicate common allergens like gluten, dairy, and nuts.
• Ingredients List: This list organizes all ingredients by quantity, with the main ingredient listed first.
• UPC/barcodes/QR codes: Must be at the correct size and readable by scanners at the checkout.
• Regulations: Require the above information including the NFT panel and UPC barcode to be within a certain size.

Food labels provide transparency, allowing consumers to make informed choices while building trust between brands and buyers. This is an essential part of food labelling and nutrition communication, making people aware of what they’re consuming.

Food Label Safety Considerations in Canada

In Canada, food label safety is very important. Every label must follow strict rules to protect consumers’ health and well-being. The CFIA and Health Canada mandate that all food products follow specific labelling requirements, covering everything from nutritional information to allergen warnings.

Key Considerations for Food Label Safety:

1. Accurate Allergen Information: It’s essential to list any allergens in bold, ensuring they stand out. However, you will not always find this information on the label.  In these cases, usually, the retailer/restaurant is able to provide this upon request. Failure to list all or any allergens can result in recalls and health risks for consumers with allergies.
2. Nutritional Accuracy: Claims like “low-fat” or “sugar-free” require validation to prevent misleading consumers.
3. Clear Expiry Dates: Labels should include accurate expiry or best-before dates. Especially for perishable items, food dating is a crucial part. This information helps consumers safely enjoy products within the recommended time.
4. The Design of a Label: The presentation of any claims, for example low-fat, and the ease of legibility of ingredients and nutritional information is important. This can lead to customer frustrations if not well laid out on the label.

In Canada, improperly or not clearly labelled products can be pulled from shelves or subject to heavy fines. These strict regulations protect consumers and ensure that brands remain accountable for their product’s contents.

How to Make Custom Food Labels and Stickers

Creating a custom food label involves both creativity and compliance. Custom labels offer brands a chance to stand out on the shelf and build a distinct identity while meeting Canadian food safety regulations.

How to Make Food Labels: Step-by-step Guide

1. Identify Required Label Components: Begin by ensuring you include all mandatory elements, such as nutritional facts, allergen warnings, and ingredient lists. Be aware of labelling requirements based on the product type.
2. Select Label Materials: Choose materials that suit the product’s needs. For food labels, it’s important to pick durable, food-safe materials that can withstand refrigeration or shelf life.
3. Design Visually Compelling Labels: This step is where brands can shine. Adding brand colors, logos, and a clear font creates an appealing look. The design should reflect your brand identity and values. It can also help attract customers’ eyes to a lot of other products. When a brand creates a seasonal variation for the product appeal, for example at Christmas time, it should stand out from the year-round item the client is used to seeing on the shelf. This will avoid confusion over regular vs seasonal branding.  Custom labels not only enhance brand visibility but also build credibility, making it easier for customers to trust and identify your product.
4. Ensure Compliance with Canadian Labelling Standards: Ensure your label is both visually engaging and also compliant with Health Canada’s guidelines for food labelling.
5. Use a Food Label Design Creator: For businesses wanting DIY options, a food label design maker tool can simplify the design and layout process. These tools offer templates to create attractive label designs quickly, while still allowing customization.

At Kwality Labels, you can take a more professional approach to label printing your custom design.

Top Custom Food Label Companies: Introducing Kwality Labels

When looking for custom food label companies in Toronto and the GTA area, Kwality Labels stands out with its IFS PACsecure HACCP certification for food safety standards.

Custom Food Labelling in Toronto: Why It Matters

Toronto’s food scene is booming, and custom food labelling has become increasingly important for brands aiming to stand out in this competitive market. Whether you’re a startup or an established brand, printing visually appealing and compliant labels can drive customer engagement and strengthen brand loyalty.

Benefits of Custom Food Labels:

1. Enhanced Brand Recognition: Custom labelling with a unique logo, colors, and design elements helps make your product memorable.
2. Increased Consumer Engagement: Eye-catching labels can capture attention, driving purchase decisions and fostering customer loyalty.

Custom food labels can transform a product’s market appeal, helping brands build a loyal customer base while ensuring consumer safety and trust.

Food Label Examples

Here’s a look at examples of label food from Kwality Labels, showcasing how custom labels can enhance product appeal. It reflects the brand’s identity. This helps products stand out and connect with consumers right away.

Conclusion

Food labels play a significant role in building trust and transparency between brands and consumers. In Canada, strict guidelines ensure food label safety, making it essential for brands to stay informed and compliant.

Ready to elevate your brand with custom food labels? Connect with Kwality Labels to print labels that are as safe as they are striking.