Johannesburg - All food manufactured, imported and sold in
South Africa must be labelled with detailed nutritional and compositional
information, according to new health regulations published in the Star
newspaper on Friday.
Health department spokesperson Fidel Hadebe said this is to
ensure consumers receive adequate information before purchase, so that the
public is not misled by manufacturers.
The new regulations came into effect on Thursday.
The provisions are:
- a description of the ingredients contained in the food
printed clearly next to the name of the product;
- the food's country of origin;
- statements such as "high fibre", "sugar
free" and "low fat" must be substantiated by a nutritional
table;
- a percentage breakdown of ingredients advertised on the
label;
- a best before, sell by, and use by date; and
- food allergens contained in the product, such as peanuts
and dairy products, must be declared.