Food labelling
Food nutritional and allergen analysis
Food Nutritional Analysis
Testing out nutritional values is a necessary tool to ensure that companies in the food sector comply with nutritional labelling regulations and the specifications of the large distribution. On the other hand, food nutritional analysis and allergen testing provide information first hand and having it updated is essential to comply with the quality system and development of new products.
We carry out the analysis of the nutritional composition of a food in terms of its content of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fibre, energy value, profile of fatty acids, content of sodium (salt), etc.
For those South African food manufacturer that need to test Nutritional Values for the European Union markets, our analyses are directly related to the nutritional information on the product label as established by Regulation 1169/2011 on food information provided to the consumer.
At AGQ Labs, our technical department advises you on how to correctly declare the nutritional values of your food on the label and the most relevant labelling requirements for your target markets.
Results Reports and Nutrition Label
Our Nutrition Labelling Results Reports are tailored to the most demanding markets, including models of Nutrition Labelling under European Union (Regulation 1169/2011) and United States (21 CFR 101.2 (b) and (d), Section 403 (w) of the FD&C Act).
The mandatory Nutritional Values for Food Labelling must include all the information in the following order:
1. Energy
2. Fats of which: Saturated
3. Carbohydrates, of which: Sugars
4. Protein
5. Salt
AGQ Labs makes available to its clients a wide range of analytical services to be able to include the voluntary information on nutritional labelling, such as monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyols, starch, dietary fiber and vitamins and minerals in the following order:
1. Energetic value
2. Total Fats, of which:
a) Saturated
b) Monounsaturated
c) Polyunsaturated
3. Carbohydrates, of which:
a) Sugars
b) Polyols
c) Starch
4. Dietary fiber
5. Protein
6. Salt
7. Vitamins and Minerals
United States Nutritional Values
and Labelling for South Africa
Thanks to our international presence, AGQ Labs offers our clients who export to the United States all the information related to the renewal of Nutrition Labelling carried out by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration). The main changes are the following:
- An updated design to highlight Calories and Servings, two important elements for making informed decisions in food selection.
- Daily nutrient values such as sodium, fibre, and vitamin D updated and consistent with the 2015-2020 Institute of Medicine recommendations and Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Daily values (DV) are the reference amounts for nutrients to be consumed or not exceeded, and are used to calculate the% DV that manufacturers include on the label.
- A statement on vitamin D and potassium that will include the actual amount in grams, plus% DV. These are nutrients that some people do not ingest in sufficient amounts, which increases their risk of chronic diseases. The% DV of calcium and iron will remain mandatory, along with their actual amount in grams. Vitamins A and C will no longer be mandatory because their deficiency is rare, but these nutrients can be included voluntarily.
- Calories from fat will be removed because research indicates that the type of fat is more important than the amount. Total Fat, Saturated Fat and Trans Fat will remain mandatory.
- A footnote to the shortened label to better explain% DV.
Food Allergen Analysis in South Africa
AGQ Labs offers technical knowledge and accurate results for food allergen testing.
Accurate and reliable detection of food allergens guarantees the safety and quality of your food products and processes, verifies the food properties for labelling and safeguards your brand image.
In our state-of-the-art laboratories, our experienced technicians use the latest technology, including an immunoassay test (ELISA) to accurately determine the presence of allergens, even at very low levels.
Our laboratories can analyse the majority of allergenic ingredients as listed in Annex II of European Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of information on the food product to consumers. Our allergens testing in South Africa are:
