Newsletter
NUTRITIONAL LABELING FOR ALL PACKAGED FOODSTUFFS
On 7 February 2007, the Department of Health (DOH) gave advance notice that in future all packaged frozen foods, edible condiments and seasonings, and other fully packaged foodstuffs offered for sale must be labeled with their con-stituent nutrients and the quantities of such nu-trients. The date for this requirement to take effect is provisionally set as 1 January 2008 (for foodstuffs whose manufacture is completed on or after that date). However, the confirmed date and precise requirements will be formally an-nounced at a later date.
The DOH's notice defines "frozen foods" as packaged foodstuffs that have undergone prior preparation, processing, or cooking, and have been rapidly frozen and maintained in a frozen condition, and stored, transported, and offered for sale at a temperature maintained at or be-low –18°C. They include frozen foods made from agricultural produce, animal products, or aquatic products, frozen cooked foods, and other frozen foodstuffs.
"Edible condiments and seasonings" are defined as foodstuffs whose major raw materials are ag-ricultural, animal, or aquatic produce, or proc-essed products made therefrom, and that have appropriate supplementary ingredients added to them in accordance with their characteristics or physical form, and by fermentation or blending are made into products intended for seasoning or flavoring, and that are appropriately packaged in commercial packaging.
"Other fully packaged foodstuffs" means all foodstuffs offered for sale in full commercial packaging.