The labelling of food items has changed over a number of years now and there are some regulations which are mandatory. In 2011 the EU drew up a set of new requirements which has been designed to bring food and nutritional labelling the same for all member countries.
It has been law in this country for a number of things to be printed on a label and these are; the manufacturers name and contact details, name of the product, description of the product, except in the case of bread for example, the ingredients must be displayed in descending order of weight, cooking or heating instructions, storage and shelf life, place of origin, and allergy information.
The new regulations set out by the EU in 2011 are broadly similar, but they did not apply until 2014 and with nutrition labelling becoming mandatory in 2016, most UK manufacturers had already complied with this. Also agreed the minimum font size has been set for all mandatory information on most food labels. Simplified information may be provided voluntarily on front of pack. The types of vegetable oil used in food, for example such as palm oil, must be stated.
Drinks with high caffeine content will have to be additionally labelled as not recommended for children or pregnant and breastfeeding women, with the actual caffeine content quoted.