NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Student Name Joseph Ndondo

Student Number N0110859W

Course Food Nutrition

Lecturer Mr Mangoma

MINI PROJECT

A survey on the compliance of locally manufactured and imported food products to food

labelling regulations

2

ABSTRACT

A detailed survey was conducted to determine the compliance of food producers to local and

international food labelling guidelines Ten different foodstuffs were sampled and involved in the

study These were PRObands rice Irvines mixed portions Yum yum peanut butter Heineken lager

beer Victoria Self raising flour Nestle cerelac Drsquolite pure cooking oil and Olivine buttercup

margarine Labels of various foodstuffs were analyzed and were compared to local and

international standards to check if they were complying with the specified labelling regulations

Out of the ten foodstuffs only three were found to be complying (Yum Yum peanut butter

Heineken beer and Drsquolite cooking oil) These findings showed that there was a 30 conformance

score All the conforming products foodstuffs were imports (foreign brands) The survey findings

clearly revealed that companies especially local firms were not wholly complying with food

labelling standards This shows that there might be some loopholes in the enforcement of the food

laws Strict penalties should be slapped on defaulting firms andor suspensions of licences

3

OBJECTIVES

To analyze various food labels of ten different foodstuffs

To grasp and understand food labelling regulations

To understand which information by law must appear on food products

To check if the labels are complying with local food labelling regulations

To check if the labels are complying with international food labelling codes

4

LITERATURE REVIEW

Food labelling is the primary means of communication between the producer and seller of food on

one hand and the purchaser and consumer on the other (wwwfoodafactoflifeorguk ) Food

labelling regulations prescribe rules for the labelling of food which is in whole or in part intended

for human consumption or which is intended for entry into or to be used in the manufacture of

any substance In Zimbabwe these regulations are embodied in the Food and Food Standards (Food

Labelling) Regulations 2002 as amended by SI 95 of 2003 These regulations apply to all foods

which are sold or manufactured for sale in Zimbabwe Other regulations include those of voluntary

bodies like Standards Association of Zimbabwersquos (SAZ) ZWS ISO 220052008 (Traceability in

the feed and food chain General principles and basic requirements for systems design and

implementation) and ZWS ISO 220002005 (Food safety management systems requirements for

organization in the food chain) The most important feature of labelling or labels is ldquonutrition

labellingrdquo It is a description intended to inform the consumer of nutritional properties of a food

Nutritional labelling consists of two components

(a) Nutrient declaration

(b) Supplementary nutrition information

Nutrient declaration means a standardized statement or listing of the nutrient content of a food

Nutritional labeling aims at providing the consumer with information about a food so that a healthy

and wise choice of food can be made (wwwnutritionorguk)

Food labelling assist consumers in making informed food choices encourage food manufactures

to apply sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods and regulates misleading or

deceptive labels and claims Zimbabwe also subscribes to international food laws It has been a

member since 1985 of the Codex Alimentarius (Latin meaning Food Code) Commission a 170

member intergovernmental body established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the

United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with the purpose of protecting

the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade The Commission also

promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and

non-governmental organizations

The Codex alimentarius is divided into the following sections

2

ABSTRACT

A detailed survey was conducted to determine the compliance of food producers to local and

international food labelling guidelines Ten different foodstuffs were sampled and involved in the

study These were PRObands rice Irvines mixed portions Yum yum peanut butter Heineken lager

beer Victoria Self raising flour Nestle cerelac Drsquolite pure cooking oil and Olivine buttercup

margarine Labels of various foodstuffs were analyzed and were compared to local and

international standards to check if they were complying with the specified labelling regulations

Out of the ten foodstuffs only three were found to be complying (Yum Yum peanut butter

Heineken beer and Drsquolite cooking oil) These findings showed that there was a 30 conformance

score All the conforming products foodstuffs were imports (foreign brands) The survey findings

clearly revealed that companies especially local firms were not wholly complying with food

labelling standards This shows that there might be some loopholes in the enforcement of the food

laws Strict penalties should be slapped on defaulting firms andor suspensions of licences

3

OBJECTIVES

To analyze various food labels of ten different foodstuffs

To grasp and understand food labelling regulations

To understand which information by law must appear on food products

To check if the labels are complying with local food labelling regulations

To check if the labels are complying with international food labelling codes

4

LITERATURE REVIEW

Food labelling is the primary means of communication between the producer and seller of food on

one hand and the purchaser and consumer on the other (wwwfoodafactoflifeorguk ) Food

labelling regulations prescribe rules for the labelling of food which is in whole or in part intended

for human consumption or which is intended for entry into or to be used in the manufacture of

any substance In Zimbabwe these regulations are embodied in the Food and Food Standards (Food

Labelling) Regulations 2002 as amended by SI 95 of 2003 These regulations apply to all foods

which are sold or manufactured for sale in Zimbabwe Other regulations include those of voluntary

bodies like Standards Association of Zimbabwersquos (SAZ) ZWS ISO 220052008 (Traceability in

the feed and food chain General principles and basic requirements for systems design and

implementation) and ZWS ISO 220002005 (Food safety management systems requirements for

organization in the food chain) The most important feature of labelling or labels is ldquonutrition

labellingrdquo It is a description intended to inform the consumer of nutritional properties of a food

Nutritional labelling consists of two components

(a) Nutrient declaration

(b) Supplementary nutrition information

Nutrient declaration means a standardized statement or listing of the nutrient content of a food

Nutritional labeling aims at providing the consumer with information about a food so that a healthy

and wise choice of food can be made (wwwnutritionorguk)

Food labelling assist consumers in making informed food choices encourage food manufactures

to apply sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods and regulates misleading or

deceptive labels and claims Zimbabwe also subscribes to international food laws It has been a

member since 1985 of the Codex Alimentarius (Latin meaning Food Code) Commission a 170

member intergovernmental body established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the

United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with the purpose of protecting

the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade The Commission also

promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and

non-governmental organizations

The Codex alimentarius is divided into the following sections

3

OBJECTIVES

To analyze various food labels of ten different foodstuffs

To grasp and understand food labelling regulations

To understand which information by law must appear on food products

To check if the labels are complying with local food labelling regulations

To check if the labels are complying with international food labelling codes

4

LITERATURE REVIEW

Food labelling is the primary means of communication between the producer and seller of food on

one hand and the purchaser and consumer on the other (wwwfoodafactoflifeorguk ) Food

labelling regulations prescribe rules for the labelling of food which is in whole or in part intended

for human consumption or which is intended for entry into or to be used in the manufacture of

any substance In Zimbabwe these regulations are embodied in the Food and Food Standards (Food

Labelling) Regulations 2002 as amended by SI 95 of 2003 These regulations apply to all foods

which are sold or manufactured for sale in Zimbabwe Other regulations include those of voluntary

bodies like Standards Association of Zimbabwersquos (SAZ) ZWS ISO 220052008 (Traceability in

the feed and food chain General principles and basic requirements for systems design and

implementation) and ZWS ISO 220002005 (Food safety management systems requirements for

organization in the food chain) The most important feature of labelling or labels is ldquonutrition

labellingrdquo It is a description intended to inform the consumer of nutritional properties of a food

Nutritional labelling consists of two components

(a) Nutrient declaration

(b) Supplementary nutrition information

Nutrient declaration means a standardized statement or listing of the nutrient content of a food

Nutritional labeling aims at providing the consumer with information about a food so that a healthy

and wise choice of food can be made (wwwnutritionorguk)

Food labelling assist consumers in making informed food choices encourage food manufactures

to apply sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods and regulates misleading or

deceptive labels and claims Zimbabwe also subscribes to international food laws It has been a

member since 1985 of the Codex Alimentarius (Latin meaning Food Code) Commission a 170

member intergovernmental body established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the

United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with the purpose of protecting

the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade The Commission also

promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and

non-governmental organizations

The Codex alimentarius is divided into the following sections

4

LITERATURE REVIEW

Food labelling is the primary means of communication between the producer and seller of food on

one hand and the purchaser and consumer on the other (wwwfoodafactoflifeorguk ) Food

labelling regulations prescribe rules for the labelling of food which is in whole or in part intended

for human consumption or which is intended for entry into or to be used in the manufacture of

any substance In Zimbabwe these regulations are embodied in the Food and Food Standards (Food

Labelling) Regulations 2002 as amended by SI 95 of 2003 These regulations apply to all foods

which are sold or manufactured for sale in Zimbabwe Other regulations include those of voluntary

bodies like Standards Association of Zimbabwersquos (SAZ) ZWS ISO 220052008 (Traceability in

the feed and food chain General principles and basic requirements for systems design and

implementation) and ZWS ISO 220002005 (Food safety management systems requirements for

organization in the food chain) The most important feature of labelling or labels is ldquonutrition

labellingrdquo It is a description intended to inform the consumer of nutritional properties of a food

Nutritional labelling consists of two components

(a) Nutrient declaration

(b) Supplementary nutrition information

Nutrient declaration means a standardized statement or listing of the nutrient content of a food

Nutritional labeling aims at providing the consumer with information about a food so that a healthy

and wise choice of food can be made (wwwnutritionorguk)

Food labelling assist consumers in making informed food choices encourage food manufactures

to apply sound nutrition principles in the formulation of foods and regulates misleading or

deceptive labels and claims Zimbabwe also subscribes to international food laws It has been a

member since 1985 of the Codex Alimentarius (Latin meaning Food Code) Commission a 170

member intergovernmental body established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the

United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with the purpose of protecting

the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in the food trade The Commission also

promotes coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and

non-governmental organizations

The Codex alimentarius is divided into the following sections

5

1 general standard for the labelling of prepackaged foods (CODEX STAN 1-1985)

2 general standard for the labelling of food additives when sold as such (CODEX STAN 107-

1981)

3 general standard for the labelling of and claims for prepackaged foods for special dietary

uses (CODEX STAN 146-1985)

4 general guidelines on claims (CACGL 1-1979)

5 guidelines on nutrition labelling (CACGL 2-1985)

6 guidelines for use of nutrition and health claims (CACGL 23-1997)

7 general guidelines for use of the term ldquoHALALrdquo

The local food law is embodied in the food and food standards (food labelling) regulations 2002

however additional labelling is also covered in subsections specific to foodstuffs such as

Food and Food Standards (Flour Bread and Cereals) Regulations 1972

Food And Food Standards (Fish And Fish Products) Regulations 1990

Food and Food Standards (Peanut and Peanut Products) Regulations 1990

Food and Food Standards (Poultry Poultry Meat and Poultry Products) Regulations1990

SUMMARIZED DETAIL OF THE LAW

The name and business address of the manufacturer

The name and address of the manufacturer packer or seller must be stated on the label Consumers

can then contact the manufacturer if they have a complaint about a product or if they wish to know

more about it (Food and Food Standards (Food Labelling) Regulations 2002) Statutory

Instrument 265 of 2002

Weight and volume

The weight or volume of the food must be shown on the label By comparing the weight with the

price of different brands consumers can make sure that they are getting value for money Some

foods such as bread tea and butter are only sold in standard amounts (wwwnutritionorguk)

6

The common or usual name of the food

It is important that the name of the food must be clearly stated and not be ambiguous or misleading

If the food has been processed in some way the process must be included in the title eg dried

apricots salted peanuts and smoked bacon

Fig 1 A typical labelled cereal box

Ingredients

If the food is made from two or more ingredients the common or usual name of each such

ingredient must be stated in order of weight according to the amounts that were used to make the

food starting with the largest ingredient and ending with the smallest The ingredients or

proportions of any article shall be set out on the label in type of a uniform size and prominence

throughout Pork fat lard and beef fat shall always be declared by their specific names Food

additives and water must also be included in the list if they have been added Where the food

contains any artificial flavouring or artificial colouring the name of the artificial flavouring or

artificial colouring must be labelled Where the food contains a chemical preservative

immediately preceding or following the name of the preservative ingredient the words ldquoadded as

a preservativerdquo must be added No label on any article of food shall contain the words

ldquovitaminisedrdquo ldquovitamin-fortifiedrdquo or ldquoenrichedrdquo or any words which may be construed as

indicating that such fortifying ingredients have been added to or produced in such article of food

without the written approval of the Secretary (wwwnutritionorguk)

Best before date

The law requires the producers to provide and label the date of minimum durability in the form of

ldquoBest before helliphelliphelliprdquo Foods have a lsquobest beforersquo date after which the foods may not be at their

best with regard to flavour colour and texture even though they will probably be safe if they have

been stored according to the instructions on the label

Genetically modified foods

The presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or ingredients produced from GMOs

must be indicated on the label

7

1 httpwwwfoodafactoflifeorguk

2 httpwwwcfanfdagovlabelhtml

3 httpwwwwebmdcomcontentarticle100105752html

httpwww-fpmcsanlgovotcGuideCaseStudiesdietcomplete_tablehtml

Packingcode number

It is a code which is required by law to appear on the label It helps to identify batches of food in

the event that they need to be recalled by the manufacturer packer or producer

Language print and print size

The labelling information particulars a required to appear on the label in English language Another

predominant language may be used in addition to English in areas where English is not the pre-

dominant language The print should be clear prominent legible and indelible print should be

used A significant contrast should be maintained between the text and background so as to be that

the nutrition information is clearly legible The print should be in type no smaller than six point

Labels shall be affixed on a conspicuous position on the package

httpwwwfoodafactoflifeorguk

Direction of use

A label shall state any necessary direction for the handling use storage of the particular food for

example ldquokeep refrigeratedrdquo

Nutrients to be declared on label

Protein content Carbohydrate content (excluding dietary fibre) Fat content Content of nutrient

for which claim has been made and the Energy value are to be declared on food label

Other

Poultry which consists wholly or in party of poultry meat products should be labelled with the

words ldquoPoultry Meat Productsrdquo or the name of the specific parts contained in the product (Food

and Food Standards (Poultry Poultry Meat and Poultry Products Regulations 1990) Statutory

Instrument 103 of 1990

8

MATERIALS amp METHODS

MATERIALS

1 Camera

2 Packaged Foodstuffs foodstuffs labels

3 Food labeling guidelines (Codex Alimentarius and food and food standards (food

labelling) regulations 2002

METHOD

Ten different food labels were analyzed and compared to both local and international food labelling

standards Although ten products were sampled other products in the same category for example

cereals were analyzed for comparison A camera was used to photograph labels of various

foodstuffs The comparison was done as per food category that is alcoholic foods were compared

to their law and compliance was checked for their category The same was done for bread cereals

poultry and other foodstuffs Non-compliances were recorded and stated Non-compliances were

categorized as either major or minor Major Non compliances were those that affected the

consumerrsquos decision making in their buying choice The foodstuffs were selected from each

category as categorized by the Zimbabwean food laws and also to the Codex Alimentarius (Food

Code) Compliance was checked in accordance to the following benchmarks criteria the name

and business address of the manufacturer (packer or distributor) weight and volume the common

or usual name of the food ingredients best before date genetically modified foods packingcode

number language print and print size direction of usenutrients to be declared on label

9

RESULTS

Table 1 Non compliances of various foodstuffs

Foodstuff Compliance Detail of NC Nature of

NC

Other

sampled

products

TM

Supermarket

Bread

No label

No nutritional information

No business address

Major Choppies

Supermaket

bread

PRObands

rice

No nutritional information Major Tastic rice

Yum Yum

peanut

butter

perfect - Lyonrsquos Peanut

butter

Irvinersquos

Mixed

portions

Failure to label product

ldquoPoultry meat productsrdquo as

prescribed by law

Minor Drummond

mixed portions

Heineken

lager beer

perfect Minor Castle lager

beer

Victoria Self

raising flour

No nutritional information Major Gloria self-

raising flour

Nestle

cerelac

Did not promote breast milk

on label did not label as

required by CODEX on (see

appendix)

Minor Drsquolite baby

cereal

Drsquolite pure

cooking oil

perfect - Red seal

cooking oil

Green Valley

baked beans

No nutritional information Major Koo baked

beans

Olivine

Buttercup

Margarine

Position of nutritional label

at the base of product in a

not conspicuous

Minor Stork

margarine

NC stands for Non-Conformance

10

Table 2 Comparison of compliance as a percentage

Category Count Percentage

Complying products 3 30

Non-complying products 7 70

Chart comparing complying and non-complying products

30

70

0

20

40

60

80

category

Comparison of complying and non-complying products

Complying products Non-complying products

11

DISCUSSION

The project findings showed that food manufacturers were breaching food labelling regulations

Only three out of the ten sampled foodstuffs complied with the regulations giving a 30

conformance score The three complying foodstuffs (Yum Yum peanut butter Heineken lager

beer and Drsquolite cooking oil) were all imports (Foreign brands) Local brands composed the 70

non-complying products category with a variety of labelling breaches of different sorts

Four Major labelling non conformances were found The first was a total failure by the

manufacturer (TM supermarket) to put a label on its bread While other supermarkets like the

newcomers in the market Choppies also produced bread in their supermarket their bread was

labelled Labels enable cconsumers to contact the manufacturer if they have a complaint about a

product or if they wish to know more about it The other major labelling non-conformances were

failure by some manufacturers to include only nutritional labels on their products The defaulters

in this category included PRObands rice Victoria Self raising flour and Green Valley baked beans

The manufacturers failed to declare the mandatory nutrients (Protein and Fat content) From a

Food nutrition point of view the most important feature of labelling or labels is nutrition labelling

Nutritional labeling aims at providing the consumer with information about a food so that a healthy

and wise choice of food can be made (wwwnutritionorguk) The manufacturers for reasons best

known to them decided not to provide all the information to consumers

The other non-compliances were rather minor One of the nonndashcompliance was common in all the

poultry products This was failure to label their product (s) with the words ldquoPoultry Meat

Productsrdquo or the name of the specific parts contained in the product (wwwparlzimgovzw ) This

is embodied in Statutory Instrument 103 of 1990 section 27 of the Food and Food Standards Act

[Chapter 1504] Irvinersquos Zimbabwe had one of their product labelled ldquoMixed Portionsrdquo and had

no trace whatsoever of the required label ldquoPoultry Meat Productsrdquo

The other unique non-compliance was that of the positioning of the labels The food label standard

requires that labels shall be affixed on a conspicuous position on the package Olivinersquos buttercup

margarine had its nutritional information ingredients business address and directions of use on

the base of their product a not so conspicuous position for the consumer

9

RESULTS

Table 1 Non compliances of various foodstuffs

Foodstuff Compliance Detail of NC Nature of

NC

Other

sampled

products

TM

Supermarket

Bread

No label

No nutritional information

No business address

Major Choppies

Supermaket

bread

PRObands

rice

No nutritional information Major Tastic rice

Yum Yum

peanut

butter

perfect - Lyonrsquos Peanut

butter

Irvinersquos

Mixed

portions

Failure to label product

ldquoPoultry meat productsrdquo as

prescribed by law

Minor Drummond

mixed portions

Heineken

lager beer

perfect Minor Castle lager

beer

Victoria Self

raising flour

No nutritional information Major Gloria self-

raising flour

Nestle

cerelac

Did not promote breast milk

on label did not label as

required by CODEX on (see

appendix)

Minor Drsquolite baby

cereal

Drsquolite pure

cooking oil

perfect - Red seal

cooking oil

Green Valley

baked beans

No nutritional information Major Koo baked

beans

Olivine

Buttercup

Margarine

Position of nutritional label

at the base of product in a

not conspicuous

Minor Stork

margarine

NC stands for Non-Conformance

10

Table 2 Comparison of compliance as a percentage

Category Count Percentage

Complying products 3 30

Non-complying products 7 70

Chart comparing complying and non-complying products

30

70

0

20

40

60

80

category

Comparison of complying and non-complying products

Complying products Non-complying products

11

DISCUSSION

The project findings showed that food manufacturers were breaching food labelling regulations

Only three out of the ten sampled foodstuffs complied with the regulations giving a 30

conformance score The three complying foodstuffs (Yum Yum peanut butter Heineken lager

beer and Drsquolite cooking oil) were all imports (Foreign brands) Local brands composed the 70

non-complying products category with a variety of labelling breaches of different sorts

Four Major labelling non conformances were found The first was a total failure by the

manufacturer (TM supermarket) to put a label on its bread While other supermarkets like the

newcomers in the market Choppies also produced bread in their supermarket their bread was

labelled Labels enable cconsumers to contact the manufacturer if they have a complaint about a

product or if they wish to know more about it The other major labelling non-conformances were

failure by some manufacturers to include only nutritional labels on their products The defaulters

in this category included PRObands rice Victoria Self raising flour and Green Valley baked beans

The manufacturers failed to declare the mandatory nutrients (Protein and Fat content) From a

Food nutrition point of view the most important feature of labelling or labels is nutrition labelling

Nutritional labeling aims at providing the consumer with information about a food so that a healthy

and wise choice of food can be made (wwwnutritionorguk) The manufacturers for reasons best

known to them decided not to provide all the information to consumers

The other non-compliances were rather minor One of the nonndashcompliance was common in all the

poultry products This was failure to label their product (s) with the words ldquoPoultry Meat

Productsrdquo or the name of the specific parts contained in the product (wwwparlzimgovzw ) This

is embodied in Statutory Instrument 103 of 1990 section 27 of the Food and Food Standards Act

[Chapter 1504] Irvinersquos Zimbabwe had one of their product labelled ldquoMixed Portionsrdquo and had

no trace whatsoever of the required label ldquoPoultry Meat Productsrdquo

The other unique non-compliance was that of the positioning of the labels The food label standard

requires that labels shall be affixed on a conspicuous position on the package Olivinersquos buttercup

margarine had its nutritional information ingredients business address and directions of use on

the base of their product a not so conspicuous position for the consumer

10

Table 2 Comparison of compliance as a percentage

Category Count Percentage

Complying products 3 30

Non-complying products 7 70

Chart comparing complying and non-complying products

30

70

0

20

40

60

80

category

Comparison of complying and non-complying products

Complying products Non-complying products

11

DISCUSSION

The project findings showed that food manufacturers were breaching food labelling regulations

Only three out of the ten sampled foodstuffs complied with the regulations giving a 30

conformance score The three complying foodstuffs (Yum Yum peanut butter Heineken lager

beer and Drsquolite cooking oil) were all imports (Foreign brands) Local brands composed the 70

non-complying products category with a variety of labelling breaches of different sorts

Four Major labelling non conformances were found The first was a total failure by the

manufacturer (TM supermarket) to put a label on its bread While other supermarkets like the

newcomers in the market Choppies also produced bread in their supermarket their bread was

labelled Labels enable cconsumers to contact the manufacturer if they have a complaint about a

product or if they wish to know more about it The other major labelling non-conformances were

failure by some manufacturers to include only nutritional labels on their products The defaulters

in this category included PRObands rice Victoria Self raising flour and Green Valley baked beans

The manufacturers failed to declare the mandatory nutrients (Protein and Fat content) From a

Food nutrition point of view the most important feature of labelling or labels is nutrition labelling

Nutritional labeling aims at providing the consumer with information about a food so that a healthy

and wise choice of food can be made (wwwnutritionorguk) The manufacturers for reasons best

known to them decided not to provide all the information to consumers

The other non-compliances were rather minor One of the nonndashcompliance was common in all the

poultry products This was failure to label their product (s) with the words ldquoPoultry Meat

Productsrdquo or the name of the specific parts contained in the product (wwwparlzimgovzw ) This

is embodied in Statutory Instrument 103 of 1990 section 27 of the Food and Food Standards Act

[Chapter 1504] Irvinersquos Zimbabwe had one of their product labelled ldquoMixed Portionsrdquo and had

no trace whatsoever of the required label ldquoPoultry Meat Productsrdquo

The other unique non-compliance was that of the positioning of the labels The food label standard

requires that labels shall be affixed on a conspicuous position on the package Olivinersquos buttercup

margarine had its nutritional information ingredients business address and directions of use on

the base of their product a not so conspicuous position for the consumer

11

DISCUSSION

The project findings showed that food manufacturers were breaching food labelling regulations

Only three out of the ten sampled foodstuffs complied with the regulations giving a 30

conformance score The three complying foodstuffs (Yum Yum peanut butter Heineken lager

beer and Drsquolite cooking oil) were all imports (Foreign brands) Local brands composed the 70

non-complying products category with a variety of labelling breaches of different sorts

Four Major labelling non conformances were found The first was a total failure by the

manufacturer (TM supermarket) to put a label on its bread While other supermarkets like the

newcomers in the market Choppies also produced bread in their supermarket their bread was

labelled Labels enable cconsumers to contact the manufacturer if they have a complaint about a

product or if they wish to know more about it The other major labelling non-conformances were

failure by some manufacturers to include only nutritional labels on their products The defaulters

in this category included PRObands rice Victoria Self raising flour and Green Valley baked beans

The manufacturers failed to declare the mandatory nutrients (Protein and Fat content) From a

Food nutrition point of view the most important feature of labelling or labels is nutrition labelling

Nutritional labeling aims at providing the consumer with information about a food so that a healthy

and wise choice of food can be made (wwwnutritionorguk) The manufacturers for reasons best

known to them decided not to provide all the information to consumers

The other non-compliances were rather minor One of the nonndashcompliance was common in all the

poultry products This was failure to label their product (s) with the words ldquoPoultry Meat

Productsrdquo or the name of the specific parts contained in the product (wwwparlzimgovzw ) This

is embodied in Statutory Instrument 103 of 1990 section 27 of the Food and Food Standards Act

[Chapter 1504] Irvinersquos Zimbabwe had one of their product labelled ldquoMixed Portionsrdquo and had

no trace whatsoever of the required label ldquoPoultry Meat Productsrdquo

The other unique non-compliance was that of the positioning of the labels The food label standard

requires that labels shall be affixed on a conspicuous position on the package Olivinersquos buttercup

margarine had its nutritional information ingredients business address and directions of use on

the base of their product a not so conspicuous position for the consumer

12

CONCLUSION

The survey findings clearly revealed that companies especially local firms were not wholly

complying with food labelling standards This was impacting and affecting the consumer in

making sound healthy choices on buying products as vital information was being omitted from

products by manufacturers packagers Foreign products were complying with both local and

international food labelling products (70 compliance score) This shows that there might be some

loopholes in the enforcement of the food laws Strict penalties should be slapped on defaulting

firms andor suspensions of licences

13

REFERENCES

4 Food and Food Standards (Advisory Board) Regulations 1995 (SI No 322 of 1995) -

1995 [LEX-FAOC026313]

5 Food and Food Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2001 (SI No 25 of

2001) - 2001 [LEX-FAOC061614]

6 Food and Food Standards (Fish and Fish Products) Regulations 1990 (SI No 104 of

1990) - 1990 [LEX-FAOC061616]

7 Food and Food Standards (Flour Bread and Cereals) Regulations 1972 (SI No 1211 of

1972) - 1972 [LEX-FAOC061617]

8 Food and Food Standards (Food Labelling) Regulations 2002 - 2003 [LEX-

FAOC061620]

9 Food and Food Standards (Pasta Products) Regulations 1991 (SI 149 of 1991) - 1991

[LEX-FAOC061629]

10 Food and Food Standards (Peanut and Peanut Products) Regulations 1990 (SI No 99

of 1990) - 1990 [LEX-FAOC061630]

11 Food and Food Standards (Poultry Poultry Meat and Poultry Products) Regulations

1990 (SI 103 of 1990) - 1990 [LEX-FAOC061632]

12 wwwparlzimgovzwFOOD_AND_FOOD_STANDARDS_ACT_15

13 httpwwwnutritionorguk

14 httpwwwfoodafactoflifeorguk

15 httpwwwcfanfdagovlabelhtml

16 httpwwwwebmdcomcontentarticle100105752html

17 httpwww-fpmcsanlgovotcGuideCaseStudiesdietcomplete_tablehtml

13

REFERENCES

4 Food and Food Standards (Advisory Board) Regulations 1995 (SI No 322 of 1995) -

1995 [LEX-FAOC026313]

5 Food and Food Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2001 (SI No 25 of

2001) - 2001 [LEX-FAOC061614]

6 Food and Food Standards (Fish and Fish Products) Regulations 1990 (SI No 104 of

1990) - 1990 [LEX-FAOC061616]

7 Food and Food Standards (Flour Bread and Cereals) Regulations 1972 (SI No 1211 of

1972) - 1972 [LEX-FAOC061617]

8 Food and Food Standards (Food Labelling) Regulations 2002 - 2003 [LEX-

FAOC061620]

9 Food and Food Standards (Pasta Products) Regulations 1991 (SI 149 of 1991) - 1991

[LEX-FAOC061629]

10 Food and Food Standards (Peanut and Peanut Products) Regulations 1990 (SI No 99

of 1990) - 1990 [LEX-FAOC061630]

11 Food and Food Standards (Poultry Poultry Meat and Poultry Products) Regulations

1990 (SI 103 of 1990) - 1990 [LEX-FAOC061632]

12 wwwparlzimgovzwFOOD_AND_FOOD_STANDARDS_ACT_15

13 httpwwwnutritionorguk

14 httpwwwfoodafactoflifeorguk

15 httpwwwcfanfdagovlabelhtml

16 httpwwwwebmdcomcontentarticle100105752html

17 httpwww-fpmcsanlgovotcGuideCaseStudiesdietcomplete_tablehtml

14

APPENDIX

Category Food and Food Standards (Flour Bread and Cereals) Regulations

TM Supermarket bread

No label

PRObrands Rice No nutritional information

Victoria flour

No nutritional labelling on Victoria self-raising flour

15

Category Food and Food Standards (Peanut and Peanut Products) Regulations 1990

Category Food and Food Standards (Poultry Poultry Meat and Poultry Products) Regulations

1990

The name ldquoMixed portionsrdquo was chosen but the law says ldquowhere the food consists wholly or in

party of poultry meat products the words ldquoPoultry Meat Productsrdquo or the name of the specific

parts contained in the product

Category Food amp Food Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2001

16

CODEX standard for processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children

(CODEX STAN 074-1981 REV 1-2006) requires that

1 The products covered by this standard are not breast-milk substitutes and shall not be

presented as such

2 In addition the label shall include a statement indicating that the decision when precisely

to begin complementary feeding including any exception to six months of age should be

made in consultation with a health worker based on the individual infantrsquos specific

growth and development needs

17

Drsquolite baby cereal Nestle Celerac

Statement on pointed by the arrow on the Nestle product did not specify ldquoBreast milkrdquo and

did not promote breast milk fully as required by CODEX statement 1 above

Statement on Nestle cerelac product highlighted by the arrow was not presented as exactly

as required by CODEX statement 2 above

18

15

Category Food and Food Standards (Peanut and Peanut Products) Regulations 1990

Category Food and Food Standards (Poultry Poultry Meat and Poultry Products) Regulations

1990

The name ldquoMixed portionsrdquo was chosen but the law says ldquowhere the food consists wholly or in

party of poultry meat products the words ldquoPoultry Meat Productsrdquo or the name of the specific

parts contained in the product

Category Food amp Food Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2001

16

CODEX standard for processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children

(CODEX STAN 074-1981 REV 1-2006) requires that

1 The products covered by this standard are not breast-milk substitutes and shall not be

presented as such

2 In addition the label shall include a statement indicating that the decision when precisely

to begin complementary feeding including any exception to six months of age should be

made in consultation with a health worker based on the individual infantrsquos specific

growth and development needs

17

Drsquolite baby cereal Nestle Celerac

Statement on pointed by the arrow on the Nestle product did not specify ldquoBreast milkrdquo and

did not promote breast milk fully as required by CODEX statement 1 above

Statement on Nestle cerelac product highlighted by the arrow was not presented as exactly

as required by CODEX statement 2 above

18

16

CODEX standard for processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children

(CODEX STAN 074-1981 REV 1-2006) requires that

1 The products covered by this standard are not breast-milk substitutes and shall not be

presented as such

2 In addition the label shall include a statement indicating that the decision when precisely

to begin complementary feeding including any exception to six months of age should be

made in consultation with a health worker based on the individual infantrsquos specific

growth and development needs

17

Drsquolite baby cereal Nestle Celerac

Statement on pointed by the arrow on the Nestle product did not specify ldquoBreast milkrdquo and

did not promote breast milk fully as required by CODEX statement 1 above

Statement on Nestle cerelac product highlighted by the arrow was not presented as exactly

as required by CODEX statement 2 above

18

17

Drsquolite baby cereal Nestle Celerac

Statement on pointed by the arrow on the Nestle product did not specify ldquoBreast milkrdquo and

did not promote breast milk fully as required by CODEX statement 1 above

Statement on Nestle cerelac product highlighted by the arrow was not presented as exactly

as required by CODEX statement 2 above

18

18