Label Me Not
What do the labels on the package mean?
If you have been reading along for a while now you may have noticed the last part of some articles explaining the environmental impacts and labeling of some products. Labeling products can get complicated based on specific regulations between countries, certain states, and independent organizations. Now, let's review some of the common ones we see and what they actually mean..
Religious:
Kosher: Production and product must follow religious guidelines from the Torah. This includes certain food sources, meat preparation guidelines, separating meat and dairy (pareve), and Passover diet accommodations.
Logo: Usually a K or U.
Halal: All foods, except ones that are forbidden according to Islamic law, are considered Halal.
Label: Usually a H or will say Halal certified.
Lifestyles:
Vegetarian: Product does not contain beef, poultry, game meat, fish, or shellfish.
Label: Typically a V, green in color, or will say "vegetarian".
Vegan: Vegans do not consume meats like vegetarians, or any animal product like honey, dairy, or eggs.
Label: Similar to vegetarian but may also state "VGN", "VG", or "VE". Often green with a plant incorporated. In Europe the logo is yellow. It is important to still check the actual ingredient list because some animal ingredients are under different names like "collagen" or "vitamin D3".
Allergens:
Gluten-Free: People can choose not to eat gluten for a variety of reasons described in "Gluten Free and Me". To become a certified gluten-free product, the item cannot contain more than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten.
Label: Most commonly a circle with "GF". Sometimes a section of wheat crossed out.
Soy: People choose to be soy free for allergy related issues or for other reasons but there are explicit instructions for labeling products with soy or soy-based ingredients. It is important to check the ingredient lists and contact manufacturers if the allergy is severe because even "natural flavoring" and "vitamin E" can possibly contain soy.
Label: Typically, a crossed-out legume or states “soy free”.
Dairy-free: Choosing a dairy free life can be due to an intolerance or just a product one is trying to avoid. There are many dairy free options.
Labels: Often blue or green crossing out a carton or gallon of milk.
Non-Dairy: A term regulated by the FDA but can still contain casein or whey.
Label: Typically, the package will state "non-dairy".
Lactose-free: The sugar, lactose, is neutralized with lactase.
Labels: Will say specifically "lactose free", often a blue label.
Nut-free: It is important to understand the different types of labeling if there is a severe nut allergy. Tree nuts, almonds, pecans, or walnuts are included in these labels. A package can mention the product was made in a "dedicated nut free facility", specify "nut free", "may contain nuts", "shared equipment with foods containing peanuts and/or nuts", "school safe", or "nut ingredients omitted". The FDA does require a warning if nuts are involved but always double check. Sesame has only recently been added to the list.
Labels: Usually brown with a nut crossed out and listed on the "allergen" section.
Shellfish: Items with crab, lobster, shrimp, and crustacean shellfish are included on warning labels and sometimes represented with an additional label.
Label: Often a crossed out red crab.
Social Justice:
NOAA Fisheries: Dolphin-safe tuna (lawsuit in 2019 for misleading labeling)
Grassfed
Non-GMO
Organic
Regenerative
PDO and PGI: Available in the European Union.
There are many human slaves in the supply chain for the common products we purchase from stores. Products are tested on animals and often cause horrific side effects and death. Purchasing products who have the support of certain logos where social and economic conditions are a standard are great choices when deciding to purchase ethically. In America, we often only see the end product, after the product leaves the soil, after it is processed, after transportations between different factories, after the research in marketing and consumer demands, after the fight for shelf space and where to sell, and after the colors and logos are splattered on the box to shout "buy me". Certain organizations are working to improve human and animal welfare.
Sustainability labeling is becoming more popular as companies are trying to diversify their products on shelves, but "greenwashing" is common with eco-labels. The definition of what is "sustainable" needs to be addressed. This is a complicated subject as many factors are involved such as agriculture growing or livestock conditions, transportation of goods (electric vehicles may be worse than gas), facilities and factories, ethics of sales/marketing, government regulations, safety, and human and animal welfare. Sustainable seafood by the MSC is one example of a complicated labeling system with many problems that need to be sorted out. Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch provides a website to compare the best and worst seafood options and how to find alternatives.
Overall, there are A LOT of food labels out there. Many come from different organizations, and some have government requirements. It is important to continue to check the ingredients and warnings on packages as well, especially when it comes to allergies of certain products. Remember, a company's purpose is to sell a product at a profitable cost. They will sometimes add phrases in quotes that sound like the product is healthier like "natural" or add logos to promote a differentiate further. Many words on packages are pure marketing slogans. The goal for labeling companies is to sell their labels to companies to add to their brand. I often use the egg example. When analyzing which of the 20 options of eggs to choose from and their fluctuated prices, there are also many logos to decipher through. Eggs have "gluten-free" and "dairy-free" which of course they are but they also always have been. Do not assume all companies have the consumers best interest in mind. Eating out at restaurants can also cause confusion because we do not see the ingredient lists and labels on packages of food that are being prepared for us. Confirm with the staff or chef if there are any ingredients that can cause a severe reaction if allergies are present. Do the due diligence and extra research to confirm if the extra logos are worth the extra money.
Thank you for reading!
"Destiny is Mine"
*Reminder* I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Please refer to your medical practitioner for details pertaining to your specific health.