IN an era where consumers are increasingly conscious of what they eat, food labels must do more than decorate packaging; they must inform, protect, and empower. Yet, too often, labels are cryptic, incomplete, or misleading, leaving consumers uncertain about the quality and safety of the food they consume.

Proper labelling of food is not just a matter of consumer rights; it’s a matter of public health. Globally, one in 10 people fall ill from foodborne diseases each year, and an estimated 220 million individuals suffer from food allergy-related illnesses. Inaccurate or misleading food labels undermines consumers’ ability to make informed choices, putting their health at risk. Clear and accurate food labels are therefore essential to prevent illness and ultimately preserve lives.

The regulatory mandate

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international authority on food standards, underscores the critical role of proper food labelling in protecting consumer health. Labels are not optional embellishments; they are essential tools that convey vital information about nutritional content, ingredients, preparation methods, and safety warnings.

To ensure consistency and accuracy across borders, the commission has developed comprehensive standards that address: Allergen disclosures, additive transparency, maximum contaminant levels, date labelling and manufacturer and supplier identification on food labels. These standards are not just theoretical as they are the backbone of global food safety policies. Yet, without rigorous enforcement, they remain mere suggestions.

The cost of mislabelling

Mislabelling food is not a fringe issue, it is food fraud, a global public health crisis. From counterfeit claims to falsified country of origin labels, dishonest practices have led to outbreaks of foodborne illness and even death. The World Health Organization estimates that 420,000 people die annually from foodborne illnesses, many of which have been linked to mislabelled or deceptively packaged food products. False expiration dates, undisclosed additives, and substituted ingredients are not just unethical they are lethal. Governments must act decisively, guided by the Codex standards, to strengthen and conduct routine inspections of both local and imported foods, educate the public on how to read and interpret food labels, and impose stricter penalties for food mislabelling and fraud.

Decoding the dates

Date labels are among the most misunderstood elements of food packaging. Confusion over terms like “best before” and “use by” contributes to both food waste and consumer health risks. According to Codex guidelines (CXG 2-1985 and CXS 1-1985) these are defined as follows:

•Date of manufacture: When the food becomes the final product.

•Date of packaging: When the food is placed in its final container.

•Selling by date: The last date the product should be offered for sale.

•Best before (date of minimum durability): The date until which the product remains fully marketable under stated conditions. It MAY still be safe to consume after this date.

•Use by date (expiration date): The date after which the product may no longer meet expected quality standards and should not be sold or consumed.

The bottom line

Ambiguity relating to food labels is not just inconvenient, it is dangerous. Food labels must therefore make sense to both regulators and consumers alike. Tampering with labels by selling substandard products like premium ones and omitting manufacturer details are serious public health concerns. A vague address or missing supplier contact information should be a red flag to any consumer. Considering the implications for food safety and food security, food manufacturers, especially those that sell pre-packaged foods, must understand the importance of declaring contact details on food packages as failure to do so is often intentional and unacceptable.

A call for greater regulatory accountability

When labels fail to inform, consumers pay the price. The era of inconsistent regulations and lax oversight must come to an end. Policymakers and enforcement authorities must rise to the challenge with robust monitoring, clear regulations, and unwavering accountability. The enforcement of proper food labelling is imperative to protect the health and interests of the public. Food allergies, product recalls, food seizures and condemnations, foodborne illness outbreaks, deaths, and undoubtedly food fraud have all been linked to issues arising from inadequate labelling of food. Food labels should therefore serve as a shield of transparency, a regulatory tool and instruments of public trust to safeguard public health and foster accountability across the entire food supply chain.

Dr Karlene Atkinson is the vice dean (acting) for the Joint Colleges of Medicine, Oral Health and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

Dr Karlene Atkinson.