Introduction
The regulation (No. 1169/2011), which came into force on 13 December 2014, is aimed at all food professionals selling non-pre-packaged food products: bakers, confectioners, fishmongers, industrialists, butchers, restaurateurs, etc. The aim of these regulations is to ensure that consumers can make informed choices about the food they eat. In particular, the regulations require professionals to indicate the country of origin or place of provenance of the meat and the notifiable allergens (NAAs) contained in their prepared products.
What are the INCO regulations?
The regulation (No. 1169/2011), which came into force on 13 December 2014, is aimed at all food professionals selling non-pre-packaged food products: bakers, confectioners, fishmongers, industrialists, butchers, restaurateurs, etc. The aim of these regulations is to ensure that consumers can make informed choices about the food they eat. In particular, the regulations require professionals to indicate the country of origin or place of provenance of the meat and the notifiable allergens (NAAs) contained in their prepared products.
The 14 allergens to declare :
This list represents the main causes of food allergies according to the latest scientific research.
Why list allergens?
More and more people are intolerant or allergic to certain foods. The main allergens involved are gluten, lactose and certain food additives. The rise in food allergies can be explained by a number of factors, not least of which are the following:
- Consumption of an ever-increasing variety of foods
- The increase in technological manipulation by the agri-food industry.
So don't overlook the importance of making this information visible.
In order to comply with these new mandatory regulations, it is important that professionals clearly identify the allergens used in foodstuffs sold to consumers.
Failure to comply with these rules will be considered an offence and may result in a fine.
Example of labelling in compliance with regulations
The labelling of unpackaged fresh produce must include certain information, such as :
- The exact name of the product sold;
- List of ingredients ;
- The presence of allergens ;
- Weight;
- Indication of origin (for meat, dairy products, etc.)
This information must be clearly visible, legible and indelible. While French regulations define the principle of an obligation to provide information, they leave the details of this information to the discretion of professionals.
Please note: the minimum font size must be 1.2mm high for small letters.