The labeling of cheese is very important, as it fulfills two very important functions. Firstly, it provides information on the quality of the product and, secondly, it provides information on its main characteristics.
Ultimately, all manufacturers must comply with the labeling requirements of current regulations. A packaged cheese hides aromas and flavors, and good labeling helps to create an attractive product that attracts the customer’s attention.
How to read the labeling?
To ensure food quality and safety, cheese labeling must comply with a series of characteristics. As with all products, they must be accompanied by the trade name and product characteristics, in addition to complying with Royal Decree 1334/1999, of July 31, which approves the General Standard for the labeling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs and the provisions of other European Union regulations.
Therefore, what relevant data must be included on a mandatory basis?
- Information on the identity and composition of the product:
– Product designation: the condition of the cheese or the treatment it has undergone should be mentioned.
– List of ingredients: includes all ingredients in descending order according to the amount of product it contains. - Information on the safe use of food:
– Allergy: the allergen must be highlighted in the list of ingredients to differentiate it from the rest of the ingredients.
– Net quantity: must indicate the net weight of the product.
– Expiration date: the expiration date must be indicated before the expiration date. - Name, company name and address of the company
- Country of origin or place of origin
- Instructions for use
- Denomination of Origin: it must bear a specific label.
- Information on nutritional characteristics:
– Nutritional information: it is mandatory to indicate the energy value, the amount of protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugar and salt per 100 grams of product.
– Special conditions for storage and use.
Regarding the information that can be optionally included, the company can make small descriptions about the elaboration process, the history of the recipe, any curiosity, etc.
Advantages of good labeling
Good quality packaging brings many advantages to the product:
- Preserves food properties and quality
- Extends the shelf life of the product, in this case cheese.
- Enables more hygienic transportation and storage
- Eliminates unpleasant odors that the product may have
- Improves the final presentation of the product.
Thanks to labeling, we can know a food, its origin, the way it is preserved and the ingredients it contains. It is an essential tool for a healthy and responsible diet. Therefore, the importance of a product’s labeling must be taken into account.
Label design
The design chosen for each label can serve to enhance the dairy product to be sold by attracting the attention of consumers. In addition to helping to highlight the characteristics of the qualities we offer, it can also be used for branding.
Nutritional information is another aspect that is becoming increasingly important as consumers’ interest in knowing the food value of what they consume is growing. Therefore, the type of milk, or the fat content, for example, must be indicated.
For all these reasons, it is important to know how to choose the design, but also the material to be used on the label. In short, combining an attractive style with relevant content is the best way to increase the chances that customers will choose our product over another.
