The size of character, symbol and numeral on prepackaged food labels affects the readability of the labeling content. So, what are the requirements for character, symbol and numeral size on prepackaged food label in China, and what products have special regulations for character, symbol and numeral size on labels? Foodmate has summarized as below for your reference.

1 General Character Size Requirements for Prepackaged Food

1.1 Chinese Phonetic Alphabet/Chinese Minority script/Foreign Language

> Labeling basis: National Food Safety Standard General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods（GB 7718-2011）

> Labeling requirements: Chinese phonetic alphabet, Chinese minority script and foreign languages may also be used in correspondence with the Chinese characters (except the trademark, manufacturer and address of the imported food, the name and address of the foreign distributor, and web address).

>Size requirements: The font size of Chinese phonetic alphabet, Chinese minority script and foreign languages shall not be larger than that of the corresponding Chinese characters (except the trademark).

1.2 Net Content and Specification

> Labeling basis: National Food Safety Standard General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods（GB 7718-2011）

> Labeling form：The net content declaration shall be expressed using net content, numerals and the legal unit of measurement. For example, net content (or net content /specification): 450g .

>Size requirements: The minimum height of font of net content declaration shall be in accordance with Table 1. When using letter symbols to represent legal units of measurement, the height of characters is measured in degrees of letters L, l, k, g, etc.

Table 1 Minimum height of font of net content

1.3 Mandatory labeling content beyond net content

> Labeling basis: National Food Safety Standard General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods（GB 7718-2011）

> Labeling items: Food name, List of ingredients, Name, Address and contact information of manufacturer and distributor, Date marking, Storage conditions, Food production license number, Code of the product standard, Nutrition information, Registration number of overseas enterprises in China etc.

> Size requirements: The height requirements for mandatory identification content beyond net content shall be in accordance with Table 2.

Table 2 Minimum height of mandatory identification content beyond net content

1.4 Nutrition Claim and Nutrient Function Claim

> Labeling basis: National Food Safety Standard General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods（GB 28050-2011）

> Labeling content: Nutrition claim, such as "low fat", "Source of dietary fiber"; nutrient function claim, such as "Protein is the main component of human body and can provide various kinds of amino acids".

> Size requirements: Character size shall not be greater than that of food name and trademark.

2 Character Size Requirements for Certain Specific Foods

2.1 Jelly

> Labeling basis:National Food Safety Standard Jelly (GB 19299-2015)

> Labeling content: Must be labeled "Do not swallow in one gulp; not suitable for children under three years old, elderly and children must be supervised for consumption"（勿一口吞食；三岁以下儿童不宜食用，老人儿童须监护下食用）.

> Size requirements: Minimum height of font≥3mm.

2.2 Solid Beverage

> Labeling basis: Announcement of State Administration for Market Regulation on Strengthening Quality and Safety Supervision of Solid Beverage

> Labeling content: The specialized name "Solid Beverage" （“固体饮料”）that reflects the true nature of the food should be prominently displayed on the product label.

> Size requirements: The font size shall not be smaller than other texts on the same display panel (including words contained in trademarks, patterns, etc).

2.3 Fermented Milk

> Labeling basis: National Food Safety Standard Fermented Milk (GB 19302-2010)

> Labeling content: For the products completely made from milk powder, "Reconstituted milk"（“复原乳”或“复原奶”） shall be indicated adjacent to the product name; for the products made from raw cow (goat) milk with addition of milk powder, "Contain XX% reconstituted milk" （“含××%复原乳”或“含含××%复原奶”）shall be indicated adjacent to the product name.

> Size requirements: "Reconstituted milk" （“复原乳”或“复原奶”）shall be indicated prominently and conspicuously in letters with size no less than the font size of product name and height no less than one fifth of the principal display panel.

Summarize

When designing a food label, enterprises should not only meet the requirements of GB 7718, but also pay attention to the special provisions on product labeling information and character, symbol and numeral height in product standards or announcements to ensure the compliance of labels.