Food Processing, Packaging and Labelling: notes

Processing

• Milling: grinding maize or wheat into meal or flour.
• Fortification: adding nutrients to common foods, such as vitamin A in sugar and cooking oil.
• Additives: colours, flavours and preservatives. They must be listed on the label.

Packaging

• Purposes: protect food, keep it fresh, give information and make it easy to carry and sell.
• Materials: glass, tin, plastic, paper and cardboard. Each has strengths and weaknesses.
• Waste: reuse and recycle packaging; plastic litter harms the environment.

Labels

• A label shows: name, ingredients, weight, nutrition, maker, storage advice and date.
• Use by: a safety date; do not eat after it. Best before: a quality date.