Pause for a while and read the label of that product you are about to buy.

It is always a good idea to know what is in that packet, whether you are getting what you are looking for, or if it includes ingredients that you or any family member might be allergic to.

Take the time to check the date stamp and other mandatory information before popping that product into your shopping cart.

Don't know what those are? Read on. This is where we educate you on what information should be disclosed on the products you buy.

"The packaged product is in two parts: the principal display panel and the information panel," said Ronaldo Parks, scientific officer at Bureau of Standards Jamaica.

principal display panel

Parks said that the principal display panel is the major part of the package, which should include the following information:

Brand name: The brand under which the product is being sold.

Product name: What constitutes the product; for example, if the label says 'wheat bread', it should be factual and accurate. "A manufacturer cannot sell white bread in a package that is labelled wheat bread," Parks informed.

Net quantity: This is the quantity of product excluding the weight of the package. If you are buying a bottle of ketchup and the bottle says that the quantity is one litre, the contents should not be less than that.

Graphic display: This is optional and constitutes the branding and the visual that go into the product.

"It is the advertisement of the product by the manufacturer; they may choose how they want to do it," Parks said.

The second set of information is classified under the 'information' panel. This can be in any part of the package but constitutes vital information like:

Ingredients listing: Under this, all the ingredients should be listed, usually in descending order, from the major ingredients to the minor. Here, it is also critical to check for ingredients that you might be allergic to, like nuts, milk, etc.

Address statement: The full contact information of the manufacturer should be on the label, for example, 'Spanish Town, Jamaica' is not acceptable. The premises number, street name and the place of manufacturing should be clearly spelt out. In the case where the product is imported, the name and address of the importer or distributor should be on the package.

Country of origin: 'Made in' or 'Product of' should be on the package, which should mention where the product was manufactured.

Date mark (expiry date): This should clearly define what is the lifecycle of the product, either 'Expiry date' or 'Best before' is used.

"'Best if used by' is not allowed, as it gives an impression that the product can be used after the date specified," Parks said.

Batch code: This is a unique code that can be in various forms. The batch code is for tracing the product inventory. In the case of a defect or recall, the product can be tracked.

Nutritional information: This is optional, specifying the nutrients one can get from consuming the product.

Handling and use information: This explains what is the best way to use the product or how it ought to taste. "There are a few things to note. If during transit there is damage to the package, or in the case of edible products, if you open the package, it should be consumed in a specified period of time, which has to be clearly indicated," said Parks.

So, it is in the consumer's interest to: "Check what you buy; it will pay you in the long run," the scientific officer said.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com