Abstract
A labelling assessment study of Greek prepacked “quality label” cheeses was conducted with a view to provide an overview of the whole category. In total, 158 prepacked products belonging to 19 “quality label” cheeses were identified in the Greek market. Among them, Feta had the highest share followed by Kasseri, Graviera Kritis, Kefalograviera and Ladotyri Mitilinis with 81, 16, 15, 11 and 9 products found in the market, respectively. For the rest of the 14 cheeses, the share was limited, ranging from 1 to 4. All labelling indications, nutritional information, claims and other labelling data were recorded and analysed in relation to their compliance against European food law requirements. The results of the analysis showed that for only 6 of the 19 cheeses, all products fully complied with EU labelling legislation. Among the 14 mandatory labelling requirements, the lowest overall compliance was observed for allergens declaration (65%). The analysis of the nutritional data showed a remarkable variability between cheeses and products. Differences in the nutritional characteristics were more pronounced among soft, semi-hard, hard and whey cheese. The above data were entered into an archival database. Application of global harmonisation and standardisation guidelines and tools lead to the initialisation of a branded food composition database (BFCD), conceptualising a specialised database for “quality label” foods.
Highlights
Labelling laws for food and drink in Europe can be traced back to the Middle Ages (5th–14th centuries) as food marking was adopted to deliver food identity and basic properties information of the food [1]
Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation’s, labelling requirements are complemented by a number of mandatory provisions applicable to all foods, such as generic and identity information food and category name, production and packaging information, ingredients list, allergens declaration, nutritional composition either with the basic or an extended interface, date and marking, etc.name, in order to ensureand consumers’
Overall 23 Greek quality label cheeses are registered in e-Ambrosia Official evaluated according to Reg (EU) Database for food and agricultural products, wine, spirits and aromatised wine [12], including: Feta Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) (Fe), Kalathaki Limnou PDO (KL), Galotyri PDO (Ga), Katiki Domokou PDO (KD), Kopanisti
Summary
Labelling laws for food and drink in Europe can be traced back to the Middle Ages (5th–14th centuries) as food marking was adopted to deliver food identity and basic properties information of the food [1]. FIC Regulation’s, labelling requirements are complemented by a number of mandatory provisions applicable to all foods, such as generic and identity information. FIC Regulation’s, labelling requirements are complemented by a number of mandatory provisions applicable to all foods, such as generic and identity information food and category name, production and packaging information, ingredients list, allergens declaration, nutritional composition either with the basic or an extended interface, date and marking, etc.name, in order to ensureand consumers’. Information, list,consumers allergens suffering from allergies identify allergenic foods, allergens as ingredients have beendate regdeclaration, nutritional composition either with the basic or an extended interface, ulated in etc. Food labels in Europe began taking their present form, with Directive 2000/13 EC [3], on purpose to enact Community rules of a general nature with detailed labelling, applicable horizontally to all foodstuffs put on the market, and are currently governed by Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation (EC)1169/2011 [4].
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