Continued from the previous article (Ingredients for ANZ Food Label-PART I), this article continues to introduce the labeling method about compound ingredients, characteristic ingredients and alternative ingredients in the ANZ food ingredients list.
1. Compound Ingredients
An ingredient of a food is a compound ingredient if it is itself made from two or more ingredients.
Compound ingredients must be declared in the statement of ingredients in either of two ways:
- declared all ingredients of the compound ingredient separately.
- declared the name of compound ingredient and immediately accompanied by a list, in brackets, of its primary ingredients in descending order of proportion.
For example, a solid drink with blueberry powder can be written as "Blueberry powder (blueberry juice concentrate, maltodextrin)" or "Blueberry juice concentrate, maltodextrin".
When the present of the compound ingredient is less than 5% of the total food, if the ingredients contain the ingredients listed in Standard 1.2.3-4 (certain food additives and substances must still be declared) and the ingredient that perform a technological function in the final product, it must be declared in the statement of ingredient, other ingredients need not be declared.
If the ingredient that is an alcoholic beverage specified in Standards 2.7.2 to 2.7.5 and the alcoholic beverage has been declared as an ingredient in the food need not to be declared.
2. Characterizing ingredients
Characterizing ingredient means an ingredient or a category of ingredients of the food that:
- is mentioned in the name of the food; or
- is usually associated with the name of the food by a consumer; or
- is emphasised on the label of the food in words, pictures or graphics.
But the following is not characterizing ingredient:
- an ingredient or category of ingredients that is used in small amounts to flavour the food; or
- an ingredient or category of ingredients that comprises the whole of the food; or
- an ingredient or category of ingredients that is mentioned in the name of the food but which is not such as to govern the choice of the consumer, because the variation in the amount is not essential to characterise the food, or does not distinguish the food from similar foods.
If a prepackaged food contains characterizing ingredients or components should be declared the proportion of the characterizing ingredients or components added amount in the final food immediately after the name of the ingredient.
The percentage may be rounded to the nearest whole number. If the percentage is below 5%, the percentage should be rounded to the nearest 0.5 decimal place.
3. Alternative ingredients
It is allowed some flexibility to substitute one ingredient for another ingredient that performs a similar function. The statement of ingredients may list both ingredients at the same time. For example, it is allowed for the seasonal availability of particular ingredients, like, sultanas or raisins.
However, in the following situations, new labels should be redesigned to correctly reflect the ingredients used in the food:
- with no intention of using the alternative ingredient.
- was never used alternative ingredients and was not studied the use of alternative ingredients from a formulation perspective.
- used alternative ingredients in the past, but no longer continue to be used as alternative ingredients.
Food business should discuss with the relevant enforcement agency whether the old labels in existing stockpiles can continue to be used.
The final part of the statement of ingredients for ANZ food will be introduced in the series of article (PART III), please stay tuned.
Recommended Article:
[Origin] Ingredients for ANZ Food Label-PART I
Please note: Original English article of Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate, please indicate the source from the Global Foodmate if reprint.
Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.
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