PRODUCT LABELS AND ADVERTISING: Are consumers protected or misled?
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Keywords
Abstract
In this paper, we propose solutions related to issues with food and some product labels or related advertising which are often silenced or neglected. To highlight the issues, certain types of beverages, additives, dietary foods, food supplements and integrators (as medical devices) will be examined in detail. In addition, specific eating habits such as mediterranean and vegan diets as well as novel food types (e.g. food from insect, cultivated meat) will be discussed. Because labels and product advertising may, intentionally or unintentionally, mislead consumers, they can be a source of risk for them and human health in general. We evaluate some of the issues with labelling and advertisement and propose viable and practical recommendations and possible solutions.
Riferimenti bibliografici
ACRYLAMIDE – Accademia dei Georgofili, Firenze, 23 March 2023 Available from: https://www.georgofili.it/contenuti/evento/17495
ASSOBIBE 1 – Associazione Italiana Industria Bevande Analcoliche. 2024. The Sector. Available from: https://www.assobibe.it/
ASSOBIBE 2 – Iltempostascadendo. 2024. La sugar tax in Italy. Associazione Italiana Industria Bevande Analcoliche. Available from: https://www.assobibe.it/abolizione-sugar-tax/
CODEX – Codex Alimentarius 2024. Food Additive Functional Classes. Available from: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/%20GSFA-online%20/Functional-Classes/en/
COLDIRETTI – Coldiretti. 2024. Sugar Tax: postponement saves businesses and consumers. Available from: https://www.coldiretti.it/economia/sugar-tax-il-rinvio-salva-imprese-e-consumatori
CULTIVATED MEAT 1 – Mark, J.P ty Authority. 2024c. and Siti, A.S.Z.A. 2023. Micotossine. Innovation of Food Products in Halal Supply Chain Worldwide, in Chapter 5 - Engineered meat and its accept-ability. Academic Press, pp. 49–55. 10.1016/B978-0-323-91662-2.00011-9
CULTIVATED MEAT 2 – Meat grown in the laboratory: how it is produced and what are the pros and cons. The European Food Information Council. Available from: https://www.eufic.org/it/produzione-alimentare/articolo/carne-coltivata-in-laboratorio-come-viene-prodotta-e-quali-sono-i-pro-e-i-contro
EFSA 1 – European Food Safety Authority. 2024e. Zoonoses of non-food origin. European Food Safety Authority. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/it/topics/topic/non-foodborne-zoonotic-diseases
EFSA 2 – Publication Office of the European Food. YYYY. Ensuring food is safe: The veterinary and phytosanitary system of the European Union explained. Unione europea. Available from: https://op.europa.eu/it/publication-detail/-/publication/b70d1b20-499a-11e7-aea8-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-76151396
EFSA 4 – European Food Safety Authority. 2024a. Erythritol. 11EFSA 4. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/search?s=Erythritol.
EFSA 5 – European Food Safety Authority. 2024b. Food improvement agents applications: regulations and guidance. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/applications/food-improvement-agents/regulationsandguidance
EFSA 6 – European Food Safety Authority. 2014. Allergens in food: scientific advice updated. European Food Safety, Authority. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/141126
EFSA 7 – European Food Safety Authority 2024c. Micotoxins. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/it/topics/topic/mycotoxins#:~:text=La%20presenza%20di%20micotossine%20negli%20alimenti%20e%20nei,contaminati%20o%20di%20animali%20nutriti%20con%20mangimi%20contaminati
EURO–LEX 1–EUR-Lex. 2017. Internal Market. Official Journal of the European Union. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM:internal_market.)
EURO–LEX 2–EUR-Lex. 2017. Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Official Journal of the European Union. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:12012E/TXT
FDA 1 – FDA. 2024a. Food Additives and GRAS Ingredients - Information for Consumers. US Food & Drug Administration. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/food-additives-and-gras-ingredients-information-consumers
FDA 2 – FDA. 2024b. Food and Color Additives Final Rules. US Food & Drug Administration. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/food/ingredients-additives-gras-packaging-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-and-color-additives-final-rules
FOP LABELS – De Castro, P., Fantozzi, P., Ghiselli, A., Pasca-Raymondo, M. and Ticca, M. 2024. Front of food package labeling. Accademia dei Georgofili. Available from: https://www.georgofili.it/Media?c=7a645adf-7bea-43db-8eac-41c50549878e
GERBI – Gerbi V and De Paolis C. 2024. The effects of climate change on wine composition and winemaking processes. Ital J Food Sci. (in press).
IARC – WHO. 2023b. IARC IARC_MONO_classification_2023_ updated. Available at: who.int
INSECT–Omuse, E.R., Tonnang, H.E.Z., Yusuf, A.A., Machekano, H., Egonyu, J.P., Kimathi, E., Mohamed, S.F., et al. 2024. The global atlas of edible insects: analysis of diversity and common-ality contributing to food systems and sustainability. Scientific Reports (14): 5045. 10.1038/s41598-024-55603-7
JECFA – WHO. 2024. Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Available from: https://www.who.int/groups/joint-fao-who-expert-committee-on-food-additives-(jecfa)
MASAF – Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests. 2024. ICQRF – Central Inspectorate for the protection of quality and fraud of agri-food products. Available from: https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/394
MEDICAL DEVICES 1–Official Journal of the Italian Republic. 2022. Legislative Decree, n. 137. Available from: https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2022/09/13/22G00145/sg
MEDICAL DEVICES 2 – European Parliament, Council of the European Union. 2017. Document 32017R0745. Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC (Text with EEA relevance.) Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32017R0745&qid=1729949299653
MICOTOXIN – Accademia dei Georgofili. 2024. Micotoxin. Journalists and food safety: vademecum for proper communication. Available from: https://www.georgofili.it/contenuti/evento/21607
MINISTRY OF HEALTH (IT) 1 – The Ministry of Health. 2024a. Celiachia. Nutrition. Available from: https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nutrizione/dettaglioContenutiNutrizione.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=1461&area=nutrizione&menu=intolleranze
MINISTRY OF HEALTH (IT) 2 – The Ministry of Health. 2024b. Food Supplements and Ministerial Guidelines (LGM). Special foods, supplements and novel food. Available from: https://www.pnrr.salute.gov.it/portale/alimentiParticolariIntegratori/dettaglioContenutiAlimentiParticolariIntegratori.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=1267&area=Alimenti%20particolari%20e%20integratori&menu=integratori
MONTEIRO–Monteiro, C.A., Cannon, G., Levy, R.B, Moubarac, J-C., Lc Louzada, M., Rauber, F., Khandpur, N. et al. 2019. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutr. 22(5): 936–941. 10.1017/S1368980018003762
NAS – Minister and Ministry. 2013. Command for Health Protection – NAS. Available from: https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/ministro/p4_5_6.jsp?lingua=italiano&menu=organizzazione&label=nas&id=902
NOVA 1 – Nova groups for food processing. 2024a. A classification in 4 groups to highlight the degree of processing of foods. Open Food Facts. Available from: world.openfoodfacts.org/nova
NOVA 2 – Nova groups for food processing. 2024b. Scientific critique of ‘ultra-processed foods’ (UPFs) classifications. Food Drink Europe. Available from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Scientific-critique-of-ultra-processed-foods-classifications-.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjtkuPN-tWJAxXOSGwGHUWnCR4QFnoECBgQAw&usg=AOvVaw1BFNiG9JYmTlupBtVGGFss
NOVEL – European Food Safety Authority. 2024d. Novel food. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/novel-food
SAMPAIO–Sampaio, G.R., Guizellini, G.M., Alves da Silva, S., Palma de Almeida, A., Pinaffi-Langley, A.C.C., Rogero, M.M. et al. 2021. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Foods: Biological Effects, Legislation, Occurrence, Analytical Methods, and Strategies to Reduce Their Formation. Int J Mol Sci. 22(11): 6010. 10.3390/ijms22116010
SILANO – Silano, M. Available from: Grani-Antichi-e-Moderni_CN32017 (1).pdf
TOUYUZ–Touyz, L.Z.G. 2011. Saccharin Deemed “Not Hazardous” in United States and Abroad. Curr Oncol. 18(5): 213–214. 10.3747/co.v18i5.836
UPF–Marconi, E. 2024. Ultraprocessed foods Pro & Cons. Cluster Agrifood National CL.A.N. pp. 1–29. Available from: https://clusteragrifood.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4.POSITION-PAPER-CLAN_ULTRA-PROCESSED-FOOD.pdf)
WHO 1–European Food Safety Authority. 2024f. Environmental impact of artificial sweeteners. European Food Safety Authority. Available from: 10.2903/sp.efsa.2021.EN-6918
WHO 2 – WHO. 2022. Working for Health 2022-2030 Action Plan. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240063341
ASSOBIBE 1 – Associazione Italiana Industria Bevande Analcoliche. 2024. The Sector. Available from: https://www.assobibe.it/
ASSOBIBE 2 – Iltempostascadendo. 2024. La sugar tax in Italy. Associazione Italiana Industria Bevande Analcoliche. Available from: https://www.assobibe.it/abolizione-sugar-tax/
CODEX – Codex Alimentarius 2024. Food Additive Functional Classes. Available from: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/%20GSFA-online%20/Functional-Classes/en/
COLDIRETTI – Coldiretti. 2024. Sugar Tax: postponement saves businesses and consumers. Available from: https://www.coldiretti.it/economia/sugar-tax-il-rinvio-salva-imprese-e-consumatori
CULTIVATED MEAT 1 – Mark, J.P ty Authority. 2024c. and Siti, A.S.Z.A. 2023. Micotossine. Innovation of Food Products in Halal Supply Chain Worldwide, in Chapter 5 - Engineered meat and its accept-ability. Academic Press, pp. 49–55. 10.1016/B978-0-323-91662-2.00011-9
CULTIVATED MEAT 2 – Meat grown in the laboratory: how it is produced and what are the pros and cons. The European Food Information Council. Available from: https://www.eufic.org/it/produzione-alimentare/articolo/carne-coltivata-in-laboratorio-come-viene-prodotta-e-quali-sono-i-pro-e-i-contro
EFSA 1 – European Food Safety Authority. 2024e. Zoonoses of non-food origin. European Food Safety Authority. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/it/topics/topic/non-foodborne-zoonotic-diseases
EFSA 2 – Publication Office of the European Food. YYYY. Ensuring food is safe: The veterinary and phytosanitary system of the European Union explained. Unione europea. Available from: https://op.europa.eu/it/publication-detail/-/publication/b70d1b20-499a-11e7-aea8-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-76151396
EFSA 4 – European Food Safety Authority. 2024a. Erythritol. 11EFSA 4. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/search?s=Erythritol.
EFSA 5 – European Food Safety Authority. 2024b. Food improvement agents applications: regulations and guidance. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/applications/food-improvement-agents/regulationsandguidance
EFSA 6 – European Food Safety Authority. 2014. Allergens in food: scientific advice updated. European Food Safety, Authority. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/141126
EFSA 7 – European Food Safety Authority 2024c. Micotoxins. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/it/topics/topic/mycotoxins#:~:text=La%20presenza%20di%20micotossine%20negli%20alimenti%20e%20nei,contaminati%20o%20di%20animali%20nutriti%20con%20mangimi%20contaminati
EURO–LEX 1–EUR-Lex. 2017. Internal Market. Official Journal of the European Union. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM:internal_market.)
EURO–LEX 2–EUR-Lex. 2017. Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Official Journal of the European Union. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:12012E/TXT
FDA 1 – FDA. 2024a. Food Additives and GRAS Ingredients - Information for Consumers. US Food & Drug Administration. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/food-additives-and-gras-ingredients-information-consumers
FDA 2 – FDA. 2024b. Food and Color Additives Final Rules. US Food & Drug Administration. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/food/ingredients-additives-gras-packaging-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-and-color-additives-final-rules
FOP LABELS – De Castro, P., Fantozzi, P., Ghiselli, A., Pasca-Raymondo, M. and Ticca, M. 2024. Front of food package labeling. Accademia dei Georgofili. Available from: https://www.georgofili.it/Media?c=7a645adf-7bea-43db-8eac-41c50549878e
GERBI – Gerbi V and De Paolis C. 2024. The effects of climate change on wine composition and winemaking processes. Ital J Food Sci. (in press).
IARC – WHO. 2023b. IARC IARC_MONO_classification_2023_ updated. Available at: who.int
INSECT–Omuse, E.R., Tonnang, H.E.Z., Yusuf, A.A., Machekano, H., Egonyu, J.P., Kimathi, E., Mohamed, S.F., et al. 2024. The global atlas of edible insects: analysis of diversity and common-ality contributing to food systems and sustainability. Scientific Reports (14): 5045. 10.1038/s41598-024-55603-7
JECFA – WHO. 2024. Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Available from: https://www.who.int/groups/joint-fao-who-expert-committee-on-food-additives-(jecfa)
MASAF – Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests. 2024. ICQRF – Central Inspectorate for the protection of quality and fraud of agri-food products. Available from: https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/394
MEDICAL DEVICES 1–Official Journal of the Italian Republic. 2022. Legislative Decree, n. 137. Available from: https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2022/09/13/22G00145/sg
MEDICAL DEVICES 2 – European Parliament, Council of the European Union. 2017. Document 32017R0745. Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC (Text with EEA relevance.) Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32017R0745&qid=1729949299653
MICOTOXIN – Accademia dei Georgofili. 2024. Micotoxin. Journalists and food safety: vademecum for proper communication. Available from: https://www.georgofili.it/contenuti/evento/21607
MINISTRY OF HEALTH (IT) 1 – The Ministry of Health. 2024a. Celiachia. Nutrition. Available from: https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nutrizione/dettaglioContenutiNutrizione.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=1461&area=nutrizione&menu=intolleranze
MINISTRY OF HEALTH (IT) 2 – The Ministry of Health. 2024b. Food Supplements and Ministerial Guidelines (LGM). Special foods, supplements and novel food. Available from: https://www.pnrr.salute.gov.it/portale/alimentiParticolariIntegratori/dettaglioContenutiAlimentiParticolariIntegratori.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=1267&area=Alimenti%20particolari%20e%20integratori&menu=integratori
MONTEIRO–Monteiro, C.A., Cannon, G., Levy, R.B, Moubarac, J-C., Lc Louzada, M., Rauber, F., Khandpur, N. et al. 2019. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutr. 22(5): 936–941. 10.1017/S1368980018003762
NAS – Minister and Ministry. 2013. Command for Health Protection – NAS. Available from: https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/ministro/p4_5_6.jsp?lingua=italiano&menu=organizzazione&label=nas&id=902
NOVA 1 – Nova groups for food processing. 2024a. A classification in 4 groups to highlight the degree of processing of foods. Open Food Facts. Available from: world.openfoodfacts.org/nova
NOVA 2 – Nova groups for food processing. 2024b. Scientific critique of ‘ultra-processed foods’ (UPFs) classifications. Food Drink Europe. Available from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Scientific-critique-of-ultra-processed-foods-classifications-.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjtkuPN-tWJAxXOSGwGHUWnCR4QFnoECBgQAw&usg=AOvVaw1BFNiG9JYmTlupBtVGGFss
NOVEL – European Food Safety Authority. 2024d. Novel food. Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/novel-food
SAMPAIO–Sampaio, G.R., Guizellini, G.M., Alves da Silva, S., Palma de Almeida, A., Pinaffi-Langley, A.C.C., Rogero, M.M. et al. 2021. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Foods: Biological Effects, Legislation, Occurrence, Analytical Methods, and Strategies to Reduce Their Formation. Int J Mol Sci. 22(11): 6010. 10.3390/ijms22116010
SILANO – Silano, M. Available from: Grani-Antichi-e-Moderni_CN32017 (1).pdf
TOUYUZ–Touyz, L.Z.G. 2011. Saccharin Deemed “Not Hazardous” in United States and Abroad. Curr Oncol. 18(5): 213–214. 10.3747/co.v18i5.836
UPF–Marconi, E. 2024. Ultraprocessed foods Pro & Cons. Cluster Agrifood National CL.A.N. pp. 1–29. Available from: https://clusteragrifood.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4.POSITION-PAPER-CLAN_ULTRA-PROCESSED-FOOD.pdf)
WHO 1–European Food Safety Authority. 2024f. Environmental impact of artificial sweeteners. European Food Safety Authority. Available from: 10.2903/sp.efsa.2021.EN-6918
WHO 2 – WHO. 2022. Working for Health 2022-2030 Action Plan. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240063341
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##
Pubblicato
Jan 1, 2025
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Come citare
Fantozzi, P., & Garattini, S. (2025). PRODUCT LABELS AND ADVERTISING: Are consumers protected or misled?. Italian Journal of Food Science, 37(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.15586/ijfs.v37i1.2843
Sezione
Opinion Paper
Questo volume è pubblicato con la licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 4.0 Internazionale.
Copyright Agreement with Authors
Before publication, after the acceptance of the manuscript, Authors have to sign a Publication Agreement with "Italian Journal of Food Science", granting and assigning to "Italian Journal of Food Science" the perpetual right to distribute the work free of charge by any means and in any parts of the world, including the communication to the public through the journal website.
License for Published Contents
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Come citare
Fantozzi, P., & Garattini, S. (2025). PRODUCT LABELS AND ADVERTISING: Are consumers protected or misled?. Italian Journal of Food Science, 37(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.15586/ijfs.v37i1.2843