What is the purpose of a food product label?

November 18, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a study by the European Commission, approximately 10% of food waste in the EU is linked to date marking. Understanding the complete purpose of a food product label, which includes these dates, is crucial for both consumer safety and preventing waste.

Quick Summary

Food product labels are a vital communication tool that provides information on ingredients, nutrition, allergens, and safe handling to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

Key Points

Health and Safety: Food labels are legally required to provide critical safety information, including allergen warnings and clear date markings to prevent illness.
Informed Choices: Labels empower consumers by providing nutritional facts and ingredient lists, allowing for conscious decisions that match dietary needs.
Legal Compliance: For manufacturers, accurate and truthful labeling is a legal obligation that ensures accountability and prevents potential fines or product recalls.
Brand Transparency: A well-executed label builds consumer trust and loyalty by transparently communicating a product's composition, origin, and benefits.
Waste Reduction: Date markings like 'Best Before' and 'Use By' guide consumers on freshness and safety, helping to minimize food waste caused by misinterpretation.
Operational Efficiency: Batch and lot codes on labels assist manufacturers and retailers with inventory management and effective traceability for product recalls.
Beyond Basics: Modern labeling trends include digital tags and color-coded systems, offering more comprehensive and accessible product information.

The Mandate of Transparency: The Fundamental Purpose of Food Product Labels

Food labels serve a multifaceted purpose, acting as a critical bridge of information between manufacturers and consumers. At its core, the primary purpose of a food product label is to protect consumer health and empower them with the knowledge needed to make informed food choices. This mandate is enforced through stringent regulations set by international bodies like the Codex Alimentarius Commission and national agencies such as the FDA or the UK's Food Standards Agency. Beyond the legal requirement, clear and comprehensive labeling also builds trust and brand loyalty, which is a significant benefit for manufacturers.

Providing Critical Safety and Health Information

One of the most life-critical functions of a food label is to convey information related to health and safety. The consequences of misinformation, particularly concerning allergens, can be severe.

Allergen warnings: For individuals with allergies or intolerances, food labels are a literal lifeline. Regulations require the prominent highlighting of common allergens such as milk, nuts, soy, and gluten-containing cereals within the ingredients list. This emphasis helps consumers quickly and accurately identify products they must avoid.
Date markings: Labels feature various date markers to advise on product freshness and safety. These include "Best Before" dates for quality and "Use By" dates for safety. Misinterpreting these dates is a known contributor to food waste.
Storage instructions: To ensure the food remains safe and at its best quality, labels provide specific storage instructions. For example, advising to "Refrigerate after opening" or "Store in a cool, dry place" helps prevent spoilage and potential foodborne illness.

Guiding Informed Consumer Decisions

Labels go far beyond safety, empowering consumers to make healthier choices that align with their dietary preferences and health goals.

Nutrition Facts Panel: This is one of the most consulted parts of a food label. It provides standardized information on calories, macronutrients (fat, carbohydrates, protein), and key micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) per serving. The inclusion of 'added sugars' on newer labels helps identify less-healthy options.
Ingredients list: This list provides a complete breakdown of a product's contents, ordered by weight. This allows consumers to understand the food's composition, identify additives, and compare the ingredient profile of similar products.
Origin and Traceability: The label must include the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor. For imported goods, the country of origin is also mandatory. This information facilitates traceability in case of a product recall and allows consumers to support local producers.
Special claims: Voluntary claims like "low fat" or "high in fiber" are also regulated and must be backed by data, allowing consumers to quickly identify products with specific nutritional attributes.

The Role of Labels for Manufacturers and Retailers

For businesses, food labels offer a pathway to operational excellence and market success, not just compliance.

Compliance and Accountability: Labels are a legal requirement, and adherence prevents fines, recalls, and reputational damage. By accurately stating product information, manufacturers fulfill their legal obligations and demonstrate accountability to regulatory bodies and consumers.
Marketing and Branding: A well-designed, informative label is a powerful marketing tool. It can highlight a product's unique selling points, whether it’s a health benefit like being "gluten-free" or an ethical stance like "Fair Trade". Transparency builds consumer trust, which translates to brand loyalty and repeat business.
Inventory Management: Date codes and batch numbers enable manufacturers and retailers to track products through the supply chain. This is crucial for managing stock, rotating inventory to minimize waste, and conducting targeted recalls if an issue is identified.

Comparison: "Best Before" vs. "Use By" Dates

Misunderstanding food date markings can lead to unnecessary food waste. Here is a clear distinction:


Feature	"Best Before" Date	"Use By" Date
Significance	Indicates food quality; refers to the period during which the product will remain at its best.	Indicates food safety; the last date the food is recommended for consumption.
Safety Implications	Food is generally safe to eat after this date, though quality (texture, flavor) may decline.	Do not eat food after this date, even if it looks and smells fine, as it may be unsafe.
Product Type	Found on shelf-stable, frozen, or dried foods, like canned goods, cereals, and biscuits.	Required on highly perishable foods, such as fresh meats, dairy products, and chilled ready-to-eat foods.

The Future of Food Labeling

Advancements in technology and growing consumer demand for greater transparency are driving the evolution of food labels. For instance, the rise of digital labels and scannable QR codes provides consumers with immediate access to a wealth of additional information, from sourcing stories to recipe ideas. Efforts to implement standardized, easy-to-interpret front-of-pack labels, such as color-coded systems, also aim to simplify the decision-making process for shoppers in a hurry. However, consumers must remain vigilant and not be swayed by potentially misleading marketing claims that omit less favorable nutritional information. The goal remains the same: ensuring consumers have all the tools they need to make the best possible choices for their health and lifestyle.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Sticker

The purpose of a food product label extends far beyond a simple list of ingredients. It is a legally mandated communication tool designed to safeguard public health, prevent allergic reactions, and inform consumers about the nutritional content, origin, and proper handling of their food. For manufacturers, it offers a way to build trust, ensure compliance, and effectively market their products. By understanding how to read and interpret these labels correctly, consumers can navigate grocery store aisles with confidence, making healthier, safer, and more informed choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

A 'Best Before' date relates to food quality, meaning the product may lose some freshness after this date but is still safe to eat. A 'Use By' date, however, relates to food safety, and the food should not be consumed after this date due to health risks.

Ingredients are required to be listed in descending order by weight. This means the ingredient present in the largest amount is listed first, giving consumers a clear indication of the product's primary components.

Food labels are essential for people with allergies because regulations mandate that common allergens, such as nuts, dairy, or gluten, be emphasized within the ingredients list. This allows for quick and accurate identification of potential risks.

No, the serving size is a standardized reference point to help consumers compare similar foods. It does not represent a recommended portion size for all individuals, but rather reflects the amount people typically eat or drink.

The % Daily Value indicates how much a nutrient in one serving contributes to a total daily diet, which is typically based on a 2,000-calorie diet. A %DV of 5% or less is considered low, while 20% or more is considered high.

Some food labels use a color-coded system (like green, amber, and red) to give consumers a quick visual guide to a product's nutritional profile, particularly its fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt content. This helps in making rapid comparisons between products.

Food labels provide traceability through the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, as well as a batch or lot number. This information is crucial for regulatory authorities to track products in the event of a recall.