12 Feb The importance of pictograms on food products
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Do you read the labels of the food products you consume? Do you know the meaning of all the pictograms that appear on their labels…. Most of the time we tend to take for granted the information that appears on the packaging.
However, behind the packaging with eye-catching designs, there is a very important communication system that provides us with essential information about what we are about to consume: pictograms on food products.
What are pictograms on food products?
Pictograms on food products are small graphic symbols found on food and beverage packaging. Their main function is to provide quick and understandable information about certain aspects of the product, such as its food use, food sustainability, raw materials and packaging recycling.
These pictograms are especially important for those seeking to make informed dietary choices, as they can provide information on ingredients and allergens, among other things.
Types and common examples of pictograms on food products
There is a wide variety of pictograms that can be found on food products. Generally speaking, we can say that most of them are classified as follows:
– Allergens. One of the most critical and necessary pictograms is the one indicating the presence of allergens. Allergens are substances that can trigger allergic reactions in some people, which can range from stomach pain to lethal reactions. Pictograms of this type usually represent the most common allergens such as gluten, lactose, eggs, nuts, fish, etc.
These symbols are crucial for people with food allergies, as they allow them to easily identify products that could be hazardous to their health. However, there is no consistent and universally standardized pattern of color or shape to represent these pictograms. Each brand or supermarket represents them with a different shape and color, which may lead to confusing one with another. This should be standardized, using a unique pictogram for each allergen, thus facilitating the interpretation by the consumer.
Via El Correo
However, there are also some “official” pictograms that are represented in the same way on all products. One of the best-known examples is the guarantee symbol “Controlled by F.A.C.E.” (Federation of Spanish Celiac Associations). This indicates that the product has an agreement with this federation, guaranteeing that the product is subjected to periodic analytical controls for gluten detection with the commitment to withdraw those products that contain gluten –even at trace levels– from the market.
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– Use or storage instructions. In order for consumers to fully enjoy the product, there are pictograms that indicate how it should be stored or used, for example, if it requires refrigeration, if it should be protected from sunlight or if it is suitable for microwaving.
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– Sustainability y environmentalism. Society increasingly values sustainability in all aspects, including food. That is why there are more and more pictograms that demonstrate the commitment to sustainability of food products. Some of the best-known pictograms include:
- Organic seals. These indicate that the product is obtained from organic farming, without the use of pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, without the addition of artificial substances such as additives and flavorings, and without the use of genetically modified foods.
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- Animal welfare seal. Developed by AENOR, it specifies the requirements to be met by livestock farms and slaughterhouses through the evaluation of the four pillars of animal welfare: good feeding, good housing, good health and appropriate treatment.
Via Animal Welfair
- Sustainable aguaculture seal. The ASC seal guarantees the sustainable production of aquaculture products, complying with rigorous social and environmental standards.
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– Eating style. There are more and more vegetarian and vegan products in supermarkets due to the rise of these eating styles in the population. For this reason, there are pictograms that specify those products that are suitable for these people because they do not contain meat or any element of animal origin.
– Nutriscore. Surely you have seen more than one food product with the Nutriscore, a nutritional labeling system that aims to help consumers make healthier food choices. It is a pictogram with different letters and colors reminiscent of a traffic light, a more user-friendly form. Each letter and color correspond to a rating:
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- A – deep green: top-rated, healthy product.
- B – pistachio green: the second-best score.
- C – yellow: somewhere in between.
- D – orange and E – deep red: the worst scores. These products contain a high percentage of calories, saturated fat, sugar and salt.
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The importance of pictograms on food products
Pictograms on food products provide valuable information to consumers and are important mainly for the following reasons:
- Protection against allergens. For people with food allergies, allergen information is essential. Pictograms allow quick and easy identification of products to be avoided.
- Transparency. The ecological and sustainability pictograms allow us to quickly and easily detect those foods that are respectful of our environment. This makes it easier for consumers to make more conscious and sustainable choices, promoting responsible consumption.
- Diets and food preferences. For those who follow specific diets or have food preferences, such as veganism or vegetarianism, pictograms make it easier to find products that meet their dietary needs.
- Consumption and storage. For products that need to be stored or should be consumed in a certain way. In these cases, pictograms are very useful to clearly identify how the product should be used and stored.
All in all, pictograms on food products are small but powerful allies in making decisions about our diet.
At Rieusset we print labels, sleeves and flexible packaging containing these pictograms with the highest quality, ensuring that they are perfectly distinguishable and that the information reaches consumers in a clear and precise way so that they can enjoy safe and healthy eating.
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