Food Analytical Laboratories

Nutritional and the Food Labelling Regulations:

Nutritional Test Dates: Our Nutritional dept is pleased to announce the launch of 3 HOUR full nutritional service, a SAME day service, a following day service in addition to the standard 3, 5 and 10 day routine analysis services. Intertek Leads the way. NOTE - THIS IS NOT A MONDAY TO THURSDAY SERVICE,THIS IS SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK UNLIKE OTHER LABS. If you require a price for these new services please click here.

ALSO MEAT CONTENTS AND GROUP I NUTRITIONAL SERVICE - SAME DAY.

Sales & Marketing Director Steve Watt says: “Customer service is of the upmost importantance to us and we aim to maintain the lead in our competitive marketplace. Our industry leading 3-day service is used frequently by most of our clients. Launching these three (3 hour, same day and following day) services ensures that we maintain the industry lead, thus giving our clients more choice in dealing with NPD labelling targets to meet the demands of the retailers.”

Guaranteed to be tested on day of collection, NOT the following day. We also work WEEKENDS.

Nutritional NEWSFLASH: As from 30th October 2009 The Food Labelling (Nutritional Information) (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009 No 2538) come into force. They now provide a definition of fibre, updates values for vitamin and minerals RDAs and adds some energy conversion factors. Of major interest is the energy change now associated with fibre: “1 gram of fibre shall be deemed to contribute 8 kJ (2 kcal)”. What this means in practise is that we will now apply this factor to our nutritional calculations; energy values therefore will be slightly raised. However there are transitional provisions giving three years thus allaying fears over immediate label changes for existing products, which should be studied. Local trading standards will be able to advise. However all our test reports will now include both sets of energy calculations for clarity.

Chemistry in food testing is more concerned with making sure the label is correct or deriving labeling information by analysis. FAL can advise on customer requirements especially regarding UK and European Nutritional Regulations and The Food Safety Act 1990 (section's 14 and 15 in particular).

With a fully equipped instrumental lab, utilizing state of the art equipment from NMR to GC, highly qualified staff and 24 hour working, we offer 10 day, 5 day and by arrangement 3 day turnarounds.

We can also offer by special arrangement a 24 hour emergency nutritional analysis service.

PLEASE NOTE, 10 DAY MEANS 10 DAY, 5 DAY MEANS 5 DAY AND WHEN WE AGREE TO 3 DAY THEN RESULTS ARE READY IN THREE DAYS - NO CHASING AS RESULTS ARE AVAILABLE ON NetPortal^tm

The following three tables based on the The Food Labeling Regulations 1996 Schedule 7, Regulation 41(3) and (4) Nutrition labeling part I presentation of prescribed nutrition labeling (See also Council Directive 90/496/EEC of 24 September 1990 on nutrition labeling for foodstuffs) indicate what FAL offers:

Basic Nutritional Labeling:
energy	[x] kJ and [x] kcal
protein	[x] g
carbohydrate	[x] g
fat	[x] g

Typical Full Nutritional labeling:
energy	[x] kJ and [x] kcal
protein	[x] g
carbohydrate	[x] g
of which
- sugars	[x] g
fat	[x] g
of which
- saturates	[x] g
fibre	[x] g
sodium	[x] g

Full nutritional labeling, comprising any permutation of the following depending on package declarations:
energy	[x] kJ and [x] kcal
protein	[x] g
carbohydrate	[x] g
of which
- sugars	[x] g
- polyols	[x] g
- starch	[x] g
fat	[x] g
of which
- saturates	[x] g
- mono-unsaturates	[x] g
- polyunsaturates	[x] g
- Trans	[x] g
- cholesterol	[x] mg
fibre	[x] g
sodium	[x] g
[vitamins]	[ x units]
[minerals]	[x units]

In the calculation of the energy value the following conversion factors shall be employed—

(a) 1 gram of carbohydrate (excluding polyols) shall be deemed to contribute 17 kJ (4 kcal);
(b) 1 gram of polyols shall be deemed to contribute 10 kJ (2.4 kcal);
(c) 1 gram of protein shall be deemed to contribute 17 kJ (4 kcal);
(d) 1 gram of fat shall be deemed to contribute 37 kJ (9 kcal);
(e) 1 gram of ethanol shall be deemed to contribute 29 kJ (7 kcal);
(f) 1 gram of organic acid shall be deemed to contribute 13 kJ (3 kcal);
(g) 1 gram of salatrims shall be deemed to contribute 25kJ (6 kcal);
(h) 1 gram of fibre shall be deemed to contribute 8 kJ (2 kcal);
(i) 1 gram of erythritol shall be deemed to contribute 0 kJ (0 kcal).

Results can be provided using data from one to several sets of sample analysis; using statistical techniques we can show varying degrees of diligence as required. Others suites of analysis include meat contents, added water determinations. Therefore fully assured nutritional labels for customer products can be determined and advice on issues such as the FSA traffic light labeling scheme can be given (see Traffic light labeling).

Individual tests such as salt determinations, collagen analysis, water activity, pH etc… can be carried out as required. The full list is too numerous to mention but details can be obtained by contacting one of the sales representatives.

Nutrition Labelling:

Guidance Notes on Nutritional Labelling (December 1999)

General Guidance:

Legal requirements: Food Labelling Regulations Guidance Notes (January 1997)
Best Practice Guide: Clear Food Labelling Guidance Notes (June 2008)

Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (SI 1996 No 1499)

Regs Amendments:

Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No 141) [Minor technical amendment ]
Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No 1398) [Introduction of QUID and other minor changes.]
Drinking Milk Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No 2424) [Amendments relating to certain definitions involving 'milk']
Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No 747) [Introduction of general requirements relating to labelling of GM foods or foods containing GM ingredients.]
Miscellaneous Food Additive (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No 1136) [Amendment relating to 'flour treatment agents']
Food Labelling (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No 1483) [Introduction of certain specific additional requirements relating to QUID.]
Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Water Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No 1540) [Amendment to defintion of 'natural mineral waters']
Food Irradiation Provisions (England) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No 2254) [Introduction of additional labelling requirements for irradiated foods and ingredients]
Fish Labelling (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No 461) [Removal of fish provision from the 1996 Regulations but establishing separate controls]
Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No 474) [Introduction of generic name for 'meat']
Food (Provisions relating to Labelling) (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No 2647) [Additional requirement for quinine and caffeine]
Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004 No 1512) [Addition of energy factor for salatrims]
Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004 No 2824) [Implementing rules on allergens and deleting the 25% rule]
The Food with Added Phytosterols or Phytostanols (Labelling) (England) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004 No 3344) [Provides for additional statements when foods contains added substances]
Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No 899) [Implementing labelling of certain foods containing glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt]
The Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No 2057) [Providing exemptions to the allergen labelling requirements]
Food Labelling (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No 2969) [Correcting the listing of exemptions to the allergen labelling requirements]
Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No 14) [Minor amendment to the definition of meat when used as a generic name]
Nutrition and Health Claims (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007 No 2080) [Minor amendment permitting nutrition and health claims which comply with the EU Regulation on nutrition and health claims]
Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007 No 3256) [Adds molluscs and lupins to the list of specified allergens]
Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008 No 1188) [Replaces the list of specificed allergens]
Drinking Milk (England) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008 No 1317) [Updates references to EU legislation in milk definitions]
Food Labelling (Nutrition Information) (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009 No 2538) [Provide a definition of fibre, updates values for vitamin and minerals RDAs and adds some energy conversion factors]
Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009 No 2801) [Extends the tranistion period provided in SI 2008 No 1188 for certain allegens using in wine]