Course Details

Food Labelling and Nutritional Information Compliance Training Course

Introduction

In today's consumer-driven and increasingly regulated food market, the label on a food product is far more than just a brand identifier – it is a critical communication tool that informs purchasing decisions, ensures product safety, and provides essential nutritional information. Food Labelling and Nutritional Information Compliance involves adhering to a complex and ever-evolving web of national and international regulations, standards, and guidelines that dictate what information must appear on a food package, how it must be presented, and what claims can be made. This includes mandatory elements like product name, ingredients, allergen declarations, net quantity, date marking, and country of origin, as well as specific rules for nutritional information, health claims, and marketing statements. Non-compliance can lead to severe consequences, including costly product recalls, import rejections, significant fines, legal action, and irreparable damage to brand reputation and consumer trust. Furthermore, with growing consumer awareness about health, diet, and sustainability, accurate and transparent labeling is essential for building confidence and meeting market demands. Many food industry professionals are familiar with their products but may lack the specialized, in-depth knowledge of the intricate legal and technical requirements for comprehensive and compliant food labeling across diverse markets.

Conversely, mastering Food Labelling and Nutritional Information Compliance equips professionals with the essential knowledge and practical skills to interpret, apply, and manage the complex regulatory requirements governing food labeling and nutritional claims. This critical skill set is crucial for ensuring legal compliance, preventing costly product recalls, facilitating market access, building consumer trust, and accurately communicating product information in a transparent and responsible manner. Our intensive 5-day "Food Labelling and Nutritional Information Compliance" training course is meticulously designed to equip regulatory affairs specialists, product developers, quality assurance personnel, marketing professionals, legal teams, and export/import managers with the comprehensive theoretical understanding and extensive practical, hands-on insights required to confidently navigate and ensure compliance with food labeling regulations for diverse food products.

Duration

5 Days

Target Audience

The "Food Labelling and Nutritional Information Compliance" training course is ideal for a broad range of professionals and individuals involved in product development, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, marketing, and sales within the food and beverage industry. This includes:

• Regulatory Affairs Specialists: Directly responsible for label compliance.
• Product Development Scientists/Technologists: Designing new products and their labels.
• Quality Assurance (QA) Managers/Personnel: Verifying label accuracy and compliance.
• Marketing and Brand Managers: Developing claims and communicating product benefits.
• Legal Counsel and Paralegals: Advising on food law pertaining to labeling.
• Export/Import Managers: Dealing with multi-market labeling requirements.
• Nutritionists and Dietitians in Industry: Providing nutritional information and claims support.
• Compliance Officers: Ensuring adherence to all relevant standards.
• Anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of food labeling laws and nutritional information requirements.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Food Labelling and Nutritional Information Compliance" training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamental principles and purpose of food labeling.
• Interpret the mandatory elements required on a food label.
• Comprehend specific regulations regarding nutritional information panels.
• Accurately declare allergens and understand cross-contact labeling requirements.
• Differentiate between various types of claims (nutrition, health, marketing) and their legal bases.
• Identify common labeling errors and strategies for ensuring compliance.
• Navigate the complexities of country-of-origin labeling and international trade.
• Develop robust internal processes for label development, review, and approval.

 Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Food Labelling Principles and Purpose

• Purpose of food labeling: Consumer information, safety, fair trade, regulatory enforcement.
• Overview of the legal hierarchy and sources of food labeling regulations.
• Key principles of truthful and non-misleading labeling.
• Understanding the consequences of non-compliance: Penalties, recalls, reputation damage.
• Global harmonization efforts (e.g., Codex Alimentarius) and their influence on labeling.

Module 2: Mandatory Labeling Elements

• Product name and legal name requirements.
• List of ingredients: Order of predominance, compound ingredients, specific ingredient declarations.
• Net quantity of contents: Units of measurement, drained weight.
• Name and address of manufacturer/packer/distributor.
• Date marking: "Best before," "Use by," "Sell by" dates and their implications.

Module 3: Allergen Declaration and Management

• Major food allergens and their significance.
• Legal requirements for allergen declaration (e.g., "Contains" statements, "May contain" advisory labeling).
• Understanding and managing allergen cross-contact risks.
• Developing and validating allergen cleaning procedures.
• Best practices for allergen control and communication.

Module 4: Nutritional Information and Front-of-Pack Labeling

• Requirements for the Nutrition Facts Panel: Nutrients to be declared, serving sizes.
• Calculating nutritional values and nutrient rounding rules.
• Understanding Reference Intakes (RIs) or Daily Values (DVs).
• Introduction to Front-of-Pack (FOP) labeling schemes (e.g., Nutri-Score, traffic light systems).
• Common errors in nutritional information presentation.

Module 5: Nutrition Claims and Health Claims

• Definition of nutrition claims (e.g., "low fat," "high fiber," "source of").
• Criteria and conditions for making specific nutrition claims.
• Definition of health claims (e.g., "calcium for strong bones").
• Distinguishing between authorized health claims and general health claims.
• Avoiding misleading claims and understanding substantiation requirements.

Module 6: Country of Origin, Identity, and Other Specific Labeling

• Requirements for Country of Origin Labelling (COOL).
• Identity preserved labeling (e.g., organic, GMO-free, fair trade).
• Requirements for specific product categories (e.g., meat, dairy, seafood, alcoholic beverages).
• Labeling of food additives and processing aids.
• Voluntary labeling elements and best practices.

Module 7: Label Development Process and Compliance Management

• Steps in the label development and approval process.
• Cross-functional team involvement (R&D, QA, Regulatory, Marketing, Legal).
• Tools and software for label management and compliance.
• Strategies for reviewing and updating labels in response to regulatory changes.
• Effective documentation and record-keeping for labeling compliance.

Module 8: Auditing Label Compliance and Global Market Considerations

• Internal auditing of labeling practices and procedures.
• Preparing for external audits related to labeling compliance.
• Challenges of international labeling: Navigating multiple regulatory frameworks.
• Strategies for global market entry with compliant labeling.
• Emerging trends in food labeling (e.g., digital labeling, sustainability claims, personalized nutrition).

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com