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Food labelling and packaging

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Food labelling - what you must show

You must show the following information:

  • the name of the food
  • a best before or use-by date, if required
  • any necessary warnings
  • net quantity information
  • a list of ingredients (if there is more than 1)
  • the country or place of origin, if required
  • the lot number or use-by date
  • any special storage conditions
  • instructions for use or cooking, if necessary

You must also include a name and address on the packaging or food label for either:

  • the business whose name the food is marketed under
  • the business that has imported the food

Read the ‘Show the name and address of the food business operator’ section of the food labelling guidance.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Quantity information

You must put the net quantity in grams, kilograms, millilitres or litres on the label of:

  • packaged food over 5g or 5ml
  • packaged herbs and spices

Solid foods packed in a liquid (or an ice glaze) must show the drained net weight.

The net quantity must be close enough to the name of the food that you can see all this information at the same time. This also applies to the alcoholic strength for alcoholic drinks.

You do not have to show the weight or volume on foods sold by number, for example 2 bread rolls, provided that you can clearly see the number of items inside the packaging.

Read more guidance on quantity labelling.

Information you may have to show

You must also include a statement if your product:

  • is a drink with an alcohol content above 1.2%
  • contains GM ingredients, unless their presence is accidental and 0.9% or less
  • has been irradiated
  • is packaged using a packaging gas - if so, you must use the words ‘packaged in a protective atmosphere’

Country or place of origin

You must show the country or place of origin for:

  • beef, veal, lamb, mutton, pork, goat and poultry
  • fish and shellfish
  • honey
  • olive oil
  • wine
  • fruit and vegetables

Check the rules for when to label meat, fish and shellfish with their country of origin.

You must also show the country of origin if customers might be misled without this information, for example if the label for a pizza shows the leaning tower of Pisa but the pizza is made in the UK.

If the primary ingredient in the food comes from somewhere different from where the product says it was made, the label must show this. For example, a pork pie labelled ‘British’ that’s produced in the UK with pork from Denmark, must state ‘with pork from Denmark’ or ‘made with pork from outside the UK’.

Special rules for some products

There are special rules about what you have to show on the label if you supply any of the following:

  • bottled water
  • bread and flour
  • cocoa and chocolate products
  • fats and oils
  • fish
  • fruit juices and nectars
  • honey
  • jams and preserves
  • meat and meat products
  • milk and milk products
  • soluble coffee
  • sugar
View a printable version of the whole guide

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