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Labelling & Nutrition
EU food law gives consumers the right to safe food and to clear, accurate and honest information. In this area, EU rules on labelling and nutrition are designed to help citizens make informed choices by improving transparency on the content, composition and characteristics of food products.
The EU’s labelling and nutrition framework covers a broad set of topics, including food labelling tools, nutrition and health claims, food supplements, mandatory food information, fortified foods, mineral and spring waters, foods for specific groups, and trans fat. Together, these areas form a key part of the EU approach to consumer protection, public health and the proper functioning of the internal market.
The EU’s labelling and nutrition framework covers a broad set of topics, including food labelling tools, nutrition and health claims, food supplements, mandatory food information, fortified foods, mineral and spring waters, foods for specific groups, and trans fat. Together, these areas form a key part of the EU approach to consumer protection, public health and the proper functioning of the internal market.
All prepacked food products sold in the EU must clearly display the following information:
- product name: clearly indicating the exact nature of the food
- list of ingredients: in descending order of weight, including additives and clearly highlighting allergens
- allergen information: any of the 14 main allergens (gluten, eggs, nuts…) must be emphasised in the ingredients list through distinct fonts, styles or backgrounds
- net quantity: clearly indicated weight or volume of the product
- date marking: 'Best before' or 'Use by' dates to inform consumers about food quality and safety
- storage conditions and instructions for use: necessary guidelines to ensure food safety and quality
- nutrition information: including energy content (kJ/kcal), fats, saturated fats, carbohydrates, sugars, proteins and salt
- country of origin: mandatory for certain foods such as fresh meat (pig, sheep, goat, poultry), fish and certain fruits and vegetables.
Food Labelling Information System FLIS
The Food Labelling Information System (FLIS) is an EU digital tool that helps users identify the mandatory food labelling indications applicable to different products in 23 EU languages. It also links users to the relevant EU legal provisions and available guidance documents. The Commission makes clear that FLIS is a documentation tool only and has no legal effect; the legally authentic texts remain those published in the Official Journal and in EUR-Lex
Nutrition and Health Claims
The EU framework on Nutrition and Health Claims is based on Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, which has applied since 1 July 2007. It governs the use of nutrition claims such as “low fat” or “high fibre” and health claims referring to beneficial physiological effects. The purpose of the Regulation is to ensure that claims used on food labels and in advertising are clear, accurate and scientifically substantiated, while preventing misleading practices, protecting consumers, and ensuring fair competition in the internal market.
Food Supplements
The Food Supplements page explains that supplements are marketed as concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, typically sold in dose form such as tablets, capsules or measured liquids. EU rules are mainly set out in Directive 2002/46/EC, whose objective is to protect consumers against potential health risks and misleading information. The Directive also establishes harmonised lists of the vitamins and minerals that may be used in food supplements, as well as the permitted sources from which they may be manufactured.
Food Information to Consumers – Legislation
The EU legal basis for Food Information to Consumers is Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, which has applied since 13 December 2014, with the nutrition declaration requirement applying since 13 December 2016. The Regulation introduced clearer and more harmonised allergen presentation rules, mandatory nutrition information for most prepacked processed foods, origin labelling for certain meats, and equivalent labelling obligations for distance selling and online sales. It also clarifies the responsibilities of food business operators regarding the information provided to consumers.
Addition of Vitamins and Minerals
The Addition of Vitamins and Minerals page covers the EU framework for the fortification of foods with nutrients and other substances. The main legal act is Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006, which harmonises the rules on adding vitamins, minerals and certain other substances to food, with the dual aim of ensuring the proper functioning of the internal market and a high level of consumer protection. Its annexes list which vitamins and minerals may be added to foods and the authorised sources from which they may be obtained.
Natural Mineral Waters and Spring Water
The EU page on Natural Mineral Waters and Spring Water explains that these are distinct categories of water intended for human consumption. Natural mineral waters are characterised by their purity at source and stable mineral composition, while spring waters are also intended for human consumption in their natural state and are bottled at source. The main legal framework is Directive 2009/54/EC, complemented by Commission Directive 2003/40/EC, which sets concentration limits, labelling requirements and conditions for the use of ozone-enriched air in treatment processes.
Foods for Specific Groups
The Trans Fat in Food page explains that trans fats, or trans fatty acids, are a particular type of unsaturated fatty acid. Industrial trans fats mainly come from partially hydrogenated oils, although trans fats can also occur naturally in foods from ruminant animals. The Commission notes that on 24 April 2019 it adopted a measure amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 as regards trans fat other than that naturally occurring in animal fat, strengthening the EU approach to consumer protection in this area.
