Food nutrition labelling practice in China

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Public Health Nutrition
• Consumer Protection

Background:

• Pre-packaged food nutrition labeling practices in China were inconsistent before the Chinese Food Nutrition Labeling Regulation (CFNLR).
• Limited data existed on the extent and accuracy of nutrition information provided to consumers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the status of food nutrition labeling in China prior to the implementation of the CFNLR.
• To identify deficiencies in nutrition labeling practices for pre-packaged foods.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of nutrition information from 850 pre-packaged food items collected from a Shanghai supermarket (December 2007-January 2008).
• Comparison of findings with a similar survey conducted in Beijing.
• Assessment of labeling rates for overall nutrition information and specific nutrients (SFA, trans fat, fiber).

Main Results:

• Overall nutrition labeling rate was approximately 30% in both Shanghai and Beijing.
• Specific nutrient labeling, particularly for saturated fatty acid, trans fatty acid, and fiber, was very low.
• A significant proportion of labeled products omitted key information like energy, fat, carbohydrates, or protein.
• Products from Taiwan and Hong Kong showed lower labeling rates compared to domestic and international brands.

Conclusions:

• The low rate of food nutrition labeling highlights the critical need for mandatory regulations like the CFNLR.
• Implementation of CFNLR is essential to ensure accurate and comprehensive nutrition information for consumers.
• The study underscores the importance of regulatory frameworks in promoting industrial compliance with food labeling standards.