Understanding Food labels

By Health Plus

One of the quickest ways to get a sense of a brand is to review the seals or emblems used on its products. Some seals certify that a particular set of guidelines, and or procedures have been used in producing a product while other seals signal a brand’s service commitment to the consumer. Often referred to as trust marks or trust badges, these symbols serve to reassure the consumer and instill confidence in the brand’s commitment to manufacturing and delivering high quality products.

Here is a list of seals that Health Plus is proud to place on products:

Good Manufacturing Practice Quality

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is a system of practices, procedures and guidelines used by manufacturers to ensure that products are consistently manufactured and controlled for quality standards.

GMP practices are used in the manufacturing of food and beverages, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and medical devices. While the GMP practices for each industry are different, all the procedures address a variety of issues that can influence the safety and quality of a product. Some of these quality control standards and procedures include:

Manufacturing facilities must maintain a clean and sanitary manufacturing area
Facilities must maintain controlled environmental conditions to prevent contamination and/or cross contamination
Instructions and procedures for manufacturing need to be clear and unambiguous
Distribution of the products must minimize any risk to their quality for the end-user
A system for evaluating complaints must be in place starting with investigating the claims to recalling any batch from the supply or sale of the item. Appropriate measures must be taken to avoid any defective products and to prevent a recurrence.

The GMP seal ensures that the product you purchase is safe, pure, and effective.

All Natural ingredients

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers the term ‘natural’ used in food labeling to mean that a product is completely free of artificial flavors, color additives, and synthetic substances. The FDA is responsible for assuring that food items sold in the United States are safe, and properly labeled.

Gluten free

According to the Food and Drug Administration, for a food item to be considered ‘gluten-free’ it must contain less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten, the lowest level that can be scientifically detected in foods. This level is consistent with those set by other countries and international bodies. In addition to the 20ppm limit, the gluten-free label ensures that a food item does not contain any type of wheat, rye, barley or crossbreeds of these grains nor any ingredient derived from any of these grains.

Interestingly, food items that are inherently gluten-free such as bottled water, fruit, vegetables, and eggs can also be labeled “gluten-free” provided that any gluten that may have come in contact with the item is less than 20 ppm.

USDA organic

Administered and overseen by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, this seal requires that the ingredients used in a product are 95% or more Certified Organic (excluding salt and water). This means that the ingredients are free of synthetic additives, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and dyes. Additionally, the ingredients must not be processed using industrial solvents, irradiation or genetic engineering. The remaining 5 percent may only be processed or grown in accordance with standards designed to allow exceptions for natural substances. These substances can be found on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances on the USDA website.

100% Satisfaction guarantee

A satisfaction guarantee is a formal assurance that a brand can be trusted by the consumer to deliver satisfaction on any product it manufactures. The seal signals to the consumer that the brand has total confidence in its products and completely stands behind their quality and benefits.

CCOF organic

The Certified CCOF Organic Seal guarantees that the food item has been grown and produced according to federal organic standards. This standard means that organic food is produced without using:

Harmful or toxic pesticides
Facilities must maintain controlled environmental conditions to prevent contamination and/or cross contamination
Sewage sludge or petroleum-based synthetic fertilizers
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Bioengineering or ionized radiation

Founded in 1973, the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) is a nonprofit organization that helps generate awareness and support for organic agriculture practices. The CCOF advocates for organic policies and standards as well as provides education and grants to advance organic farming and practices.

Health Plus is at the forefront of these practices and will continue to ensure customers are receiving products that will lead to happier and healthier lives.

sources

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/gluten-free-means-what-it-says

https://www.ccof.org/certification/labeling-and-logos

https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/labeling