This is quite an important topic for many manufacturers. States and regions have their own requirements, indicating the composition of the product, restrictions on use or level of danger on the labels. It would be half the trouble if those requirements were constant and unchanging. The reality is that when purchasing a product, the buyer seeks to get as much information as possible and wants to be better protected from the negative characteristics of the product, so the requirements for product labels are changed.

According to the EU directive 1169/2011, since December 13, 2014, the procedure for labeling food products has changed, informing buyers about the composition of the product. The purpose of the directive is that before purchasing the product, the buyer must receive as complete information as possible about the composition, nutrition, and allergens of the product. It should be noted that in addition to conventional stores, this also affects online food stores, restaurants, and cafes. In addition, manufacturers, store chains or other companies supplying food products must ensure that the names of allergens on the labels stand out from the general text of the composition of the product.

Some innovations under this directive:

• nutritional information must be provided with processed food;
• mandatory labeling of raw pork, lamb, goat meat and poultry;
• the names of allergens must be highlighted in the product composition list;
• the smallest font size used on the label is 1.2 mm high letters;
• the requirements to provide information on allergens also apply in places of sale where unpackaged food is served, i.e. in restaurants and cafes;

Fourteen products and substances that cause allergies or have a negative effect on the human body:

• grains or cereals with gluten
• celery
• crustaceans
• eggs
• fish
• nuts
• lupine seeds
• milk
• clams
• mustard
• peanuts
• soy beans
• Sesame seeds
• sulfur dioxide and sulfites

Changes in food labeling mean that the process of printing product labels will have to be even more closely linked to the product data stored in the company. As we can see in the example label, the allergens are highlighted in the list of ingredients and are clearly visible. Indeed, preparing such a label using the means of barcode printing devices is difficult. It would be "mission impossible" to do without label printing software.

We see a form on the screen, with the help of which the data required for printing is selected in your company's database. In the label compliant with Directive 1169/2011, the printed image can be viewed, and if everything is correct - after selecting the printing device to print.

Such a flexible and convenient solution will save time when printing labels. You will always be ready to easily and quickly change the design of the labels, adapting to the new requirements that will undoubtedly arise in the future.