It is hard to say no to chocolate. But before indulging it one, have you ever thought what it takes to design a chocolate label? Most likely not, because who has the time to think about labeling when all one wants is to enjoy the sweet bar? Truth is, chocolate labeling presents several unique challenges. If you are a label vendor, the challenges can be easily overcome by taking into account the following labeling tips.
The FDA Requirements
Chocolate labeling is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, a state agency aptly referred to as the FDA. The agency has made it mandatory for specific details to be displayed on chocolate labels. Ingredients and nutrient content are examples of what must feature on all chocolate labels. With that in mind, it is important for a label vendor to first ensure such basic legal requirements are met before moving to other labeling practices.
Nutrition
Health is a huge concern, immediately after the environment as far as labeling is concerned. Is the chocolate fit for diabetics? Is the bar healthy for children? Which nutritional content does the bar guarantee? While these are questions consumers would not ask a decade or two ago, they matter a lot today. No one wants to indulge in a snack, however enticing and sweet if the snack will compromise one’s health in a negative way. It is for this reason that the FDA requires nutrition content displayed on nearly all confectionary labels.
Allergens
Some ingredients trigger life threatening allergens. Others simply irritate specific organs after consumption. That is why chocolate lovers rely on labels to know whether or not their favorite snack has allergens. The last thing a lactose intolerant person wants is to purchase a bar of chocolate only to find out after the last bite that the bar features milk as one of the main ingredients. This can easily lead to a costly legal suit to the detriment of both the manufacturer and the label vendor. To avoid such setbacks, always state on the label if the chocolate is made of ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions.
Ingredients
Today’s consumer is an informed man. He is particularly cautious where a product is edible. To that extent, a chocolate label must list the ingredients used to make the chocolate. Are there artificial flavors used? What about preservatives and coloring? These are some of the most common concerns chocolate connoisseurs have before trying out new chocolate brands.
Necessary Addresses
The information panel contains the address of the manufacturer or distributor. It is not mandatory, so one can opt out especially if a product is being repackaged. In that case, the label vendor must inscribe the words ‘packaged by’ on the label. This should be followed by country of origin if the chocolate being repackaged is not locally processed.
Point To Note
The label may look like a small component of a product. But like marketing experts will tell you, labels play an important marketing role. It is what the consumer first looks at before anything else. The label must therefore be flawless with minimal room for errors. It must feature impressive color combination, use the right adhesive to ensure it sticks to different surface with ease and most importantly, comply with federal legal requirements.
