Introduction
The regulation (N°1169/2011), which came into force on December 13, 2014, is aimed at all food professionals selling non-pre-packaged food products: bakers, confectioners, fishmongers, industrialists, butchers, restaurateurs, etc. The aim of this regulation is to ensure that consumers can make informed choices about the foodstuffs they consume. In particular, the regulations require professionals to indicate the country of origin or place of provenance of meat products, as well as any notifiable allergens (NAAs) contained in their prepared products.
What are INCO regulations?
The regulation (N°1169/2011), which came into force on December 13, 2014, is aimed at all food professionals selling non-pre-packaged food products: bakers, confectioners, fishmongers, industrialists, butchers, restaurateurs, etc. The aim of this regulation is to ensure that consumers can make informed choices about the foodstuffs they consume. In particular, the regulations require professionals to indicate the country of origin or place of provenance of meat products, as well as any 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?
An increasing number of people are intolerant or allergic to certain foodstuffs. The main allergens involved are gluten, lactose and certain food additives. The rise in food allergies is due to a number of factors, not least of which are the following:
- Eating a wider variety of foods
- Increased technological manipulation by the 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 for professionals to clearly identify the allergens used in foodstuffs sold to consumers.
Failure to comply with these regulations will be considered an offence and may result in a fine.
Example of regulation-compliant labelling
The labelling of unpackaged fresh produce must include information such as :
- The exact name of the product sold;
- List of ingredients ;
- The presence of allergens;
- Weight;
- Indication of origin (for meats, dairy products, etc.)
This information must be visible, clearly legible and indelible. While French regulations define the principle of an obligation to inform, they leave the details of this information to the discretion of professionals.
Please note: the minimum font size for small letters is 1.2mm.