Page:Foods and their adulteration; origin, manufacture, and composition of food products; description of common adulterations, food standards, and national food laws and regulations (IA foodstheiradulte02wile).pdf/646

(F. I. D. 52.)

FORM OF LABEL.

The following is an extract from a letter recently received.

We do not understand the requirements of the regulations respecting the arrangement of labels; that is, the order in which the various features of the label should be arranged.

To meet the requests for the opinion of the Department regarding the proper arrangement of a label, the following order is suggested:

1. Name of substance or product.

2. In case of foods, words which indicate that the articles are compounds, mixtures, or blends, and the word "Imitation," "Compound," or "Blend," as the case may be.

3. Statements designating the quantity or proportion of the ingredients enumerated in the law, or derivatives and preparations of same,^[1] as mentioned under Regulation 28; also statements of other extraneous substances whose presence should be declared, such as harmless coloring matter, or any necessary statement regarding grade or quality.

(The statements specified in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3, should appear together without any intervening descriptive or explanatory matter.)

4. Name of manufacturer (if given).

5. Place of manufacture (if given, or when required in case of food mixtures or compounds bearing a distinctive name).

It is stated in Regulation 17 that if the name of the manufacturer and place of manufacture be given they should appear upon the principal label. Although the law does not require that the name of the manufacturer be given, or the place of manufacture, except in case of food mixtures and compounds having a distinctive name, it is held that if they are given they must be true, and should be placed with the required information on the principal label. The arrangement of the label is the same for both food and drug products and an example of each is given.

                      Sample label for food product.
                                      +———————————————————+
[Name of product.] | KETCHUP. |
                                      | |
[Declaration required by paragraphs | ARTIFICIALLY COLORED. |
2 and 3.] | |
                                      | |
                                      | [Descriptive matter, if desired, but |
                                      | preferably at bottom of label.] |
                                      | |
[Name of manufacturer, if | BLANK & CO., |
given.] | |
[Place of manufacture, if | PORTLAND, ME. |
given.] | |
                                      | [Descriptive matter, if desired.] |
                                      +———————————————————+

1. Attention is called to the fact that the declaration of alcohol and its derivatives is not required in foods.