The Food Labelling Regulations 1996

Additional labelling requirements for certain categories of food

Food sold from vending machines

29.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this regulation, where any food is sold from a vending machine, without prejudice to any other labelling requirements imposed by these Regulations, there shall appear on the front of the machine a notice indicating the name of the food (unless that name appears on the labelling of the food in such a manner as to be easily visible and clearly legible to an intending purchaser through the outside of the machine), together with—

(a) in the event that such food is not prepacked, and there is made in respect of it (whether on the machine or elsewhere) a claim of a type described in Part II of Schedule 6, a notice giving the prescribed nutrition labelling described in paragraph 2 of Part II of Schedule 7;

(b) in the event that such food is one which should properly be reheated before it is eaten, but suitable instructions for such reheating are not given on the packaging (if any) of the food, a notice giving such instructions.

(2) A notice required under sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (1) of this regulation shall appear either—

(a) on the front of the vending machine, or

(b) in close proximity to the machine and in such a way as to be readily discernible by an intending purchaser.

Prepacked alcoholic drinks other than Community controlled wine

30.—(1) In the case of prepacked alcoholic drinks other than Community controlled wine, every drink with an alcoholic strength by volume of more than 1.2 per cent shall be marked or labelled with an indication of its alcoholic strength by volume in the form of a figure to not more than one decimal place (which may be preceded by the word “alcohol” or by the abbreviation “alc”) followed by the symbol “% vol”.

(2) Positive and negative tolerances shall be permitted in respect of the indication of alcoholic strength by volume and shall be those specified in Schedule 5, expressed in absolute values.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, the alcoholic strength of any drink shall be determined at 20°C.

Raw milk

31.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3) of this regulation, and except in cases to which paragraph (2) of this regulation applies, the container in which any raw milk is sold shall be marked or labelled with the words “This milk has not been heat-treated and may therefore contain organisms harmful to health”.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this regulation, in the case of any raw milk which is not prepacked and is sold at a catering establishment there shall appear—

(a) on a label attached to the container in which that milk is sold, or

(b) on a ticket or notice that is readily discernible by an intending purchaser at the place where he chooses that milk,

the words “Milk supplied in this establishment has not been heat-treated and may therefore contain organisms harmful to health”.

(3) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this regulation shall not apply to raw milk from buffaloes.

Products consisting of skimmed milk together with non-milk fat

32.  The container in which any product—

(a) consisting of skimmed milk together with non-milk fat,

(b) which is capable of being used as a substitute for milk, and

(c) which is neither—

(i) an infant formula or a follow-on formula, nor

(ii) a product specially formulated for infants or young children for medical purposes,

is sold shall be prominently marked or labelled with a warning that the product is unfit, or not to be used, as food for babies.

Foods packaged in certain gases

33.  A food the durability of which has been extended by means of its being packaged in any packaging gas authorised pursuant to Council Directive 89/107/EEC(1), concerning food additives for use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption, shall be marked or labelled with the indication “packaged in a protective atmosphere”.

Foods containing sweeteners, added sugar and sweeteners, aspartame or polyols

34.—(1) A food containing a sweetener or sweeteners authorised pursuant to the Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995(2) shall be marked of labelled with the indication “with sweetener(s)”.

(2) A food containing both an added sugar or sugars and a sweetener or sweeteners authorised pursuant to those Regulations shall be marked or labelled with the indication “with sugar(s) and sweetener(s)”.

(3) A food containing aspartame shall be marked or labelled with the indication “contains a source of phenylalanine”.

(4) A food containing more than 10% added polyols shall be marked or labelled with the indication “excessive consumption may produce laxative effects”.

(5) The indications required by paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall accompany the name of the food.

(1)

OJ No. L40, 11.2.89, p.27.

(2)

S.I. 1995/3123, as amended by S.I. 1996/1477.