Government agencies across the globe have stringent regulatory policies for food packaging designs. Every time a new product is launched or the packaging is renewed, you have to make sure you adhere to packaging regulations.
In India, it’s the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that dictates food packaging norms. For example, when it comes to food labeling, the list of ingredients, nutritional information, an indication of non-vegetarian items, and so on, are required to be added in the packaging label by the FSSAI.
But with so many rules in place, it’s often easy for errors to creep in. Mistakes in food labeling and packaging can delay a product’s launch, lead to recalls, and cost you a ton of money. How to make sure you avoid these pitfalls? How can you identify any packaging errors before your product hit the shelves? Let’s explore!
Disclaimer: This blog post derives information from the FSSAI website is updated as of March 1st, 2024. Do refer to the FSSAI website for final and updated information regarding regulations. Artwork Flow is a software designed to streamline compliance for brands, not a service providing legal or regulatory advice.
What are FSSAI food labeling regulations?
FSSAI regulations are a comprehensive set of guidelines that all food product manufacturers and brands should follow. FSSAI imposes twelve primary labeling regulations for any food packaging. These are:
- Name of the food
- The list of ingredients
- Nutritional information
- Declaration if the food product is vegetarian or not
- Declaration of the food additives used
- Name and complete address of the manufacturer
- Customer care details,
- Quantity
- Retail sale price
- FSSAI logo and license number,
- Batch identification number, the date of marketing, country of origin
- The instructions for use.
The FSSAI decides the content architecture and the placement of content – what goes on the front or back, the sizes of different texts, typefaces to be used, and the amount of area the information should cover on all food and beverage labeling.
Packaging artwork is covered too. For example, logos that indicate ingredients, radiation-processed foods, fortified and organic foods should match the exact dimensions and colors provided.
Download now: The Essential Guide to AI-powered Label Compliance
It’s essential to make a detailed note of these packaging regulations when designing product packages. However, several companies often miss out on certain aspects and fall into the disapproval zone.
Common mistakes that affect FSSAI approval
1. Choosing the wrong font type and size
While you’re free to use any font for your logo or package name, FSSAI guidelines require you to use a predefined typeface and font dimensions when listing important information. Details about the product such as the list of ingredients, warnings, or nutritional information have to be mentioned using an FSSAI approved font for effective packaging management.
For instance, the FSSAI has directed that alcoholic beverage bottles above 200ml should display a warning in a font size of no less than 3mm. By choosing the right font and size, you can steer clear of any such hiccups.
2. Not adhering to logo dimensions or color
Logos specified by FSSAI come with detailed instructions on size and exact color specifications. For example, the symbol to indicate non-vegetarian ingredients should be brown in color and should be 4mm for packages of size 100-500 sq.cm.
The exact color to be used can be verified before being used.
3. Not using enough contrast in packaging
Packaging color plays an important role when shaping consumer perceptions. But to simplify readability and ensure that content constitution is clearly specified, contrast is important.
For example, the FSSAI logo and license number have to be displayed on the label in contrast color to the background.
4. False advertising and misleading labels
In April 2019, FSSAI introduced strict regulations against false claims and misleading information. For example, soup packages that mention being “healthy” or “nutritious” can’t make this claim since they are high in sodium.
5. Nutritional information on the front of the package
While most of the packaging information is displayed on the back label, it’s mandatory to mention important information on the front of the package.
The amount of energy, total fat, trans fat, total sugar and salt per serving and the percentage contribution to the recommended daily allowance, should be clearly mentioned in the format specified by FSSAI.
Trying to follow regulations as part of your design workflow can be challenging. But it’s recommended to double-check your labelling and artwork before heading off to printing. Here’s why artwork proofing needs to be a part of your packaging design process.
How can artwork proofing help?
Artwork proofing tools are incredibly versatile and offer a wide array of functionalities designed to streamline the packaging design and approval process. Whether you're dealing with color accuracy, font extraction, or dimensional checks, these tools help ensure that every aspect of your packaging is flawless.
For instance, artwork compare is a tool that can instantly compare two versions of your artwork PDF files, helping you identify changes in one go. Utilities such as an online ruler, assist you in verifying dimensions of logos, tables, barcodes and so on.
Artwork proofing tools bring about advantages such as:
1. Easy adherence to regulations
Regulating information on your artwork needs your branding, regulatory and packaging teams to be involved. One of the key advantages of artwork proofing tools is their ability to simplify the verification of critical design elements. With features like color scheme validation and font extraction directly from PDF files, these tools take the guesswork out of ensuring consistency across your designs. An online proofing tool makes the process seamless by letting teams instantly check if the contents of the packaging design are complying with the regulations or not.
For instance, food and beverage packaging must align with FSSAI guidelines to maintain label compliant. An online proofing tool allows you to instantly verify if elements such as ingredient lists or allergen warnings are compliant with regulatory standards. Your teams can collaborate in real time, making adjustments quickly without derailing the entire process.
2. Improved quality control
Online proofing tools allow better collaboration between designers, project managers, and regulatory teams. They offer a framework for better communication between teams by streamlining feedback cycles for faster approvals instead of going back and forth over emails.
For instance, project managers can leave detailed annotations on the digital proof of the packaging, outlining exactly what changes need to be made—whether it's a tweak in color or a change in typography. Designers can then implement the changes directly, improving the overall quality of the packaging and reducing miscommunications.
3. Faster corrections
Artwork proofing tools can make the reviewing and proofing process much quicker, owing to built-in functionality that helps verify specifications as per FSSAI regulated content. For instance, they allow you to verify if the logo is using the correct colors, if the text size matches the specifications, and if the overall design complies with FSSAI-regulated content.
Make compliance a part of the packaging design process
Trying to follow all regulations while designing the packaging can increase the complexity of the workflow and make it error-prone. Artwork management platform for food and beverage industries help make minor adjustments quickly and verify revisions while reducing the chances of mistakes.
Online tools facilitate the review and deployment of new product packaging faster while adhering to all regulations. In turn, helping you easily address any inconsistencies in packaging and drastically reduce the time-to-market.
Questions to consider:
- How are you currently managing industry packaging standards?
- What steps do you take to ensure compliance with FSSAI regulations?
- Do you feel confident in your current artwork review and proofing process?
If you’re unsure about any of these areas, or simply want to explore how artwork proofing tools can streamline your workflow, book a demo with the Artwork Flow team. We’re here to help answer your questions and show you how our tools can be tailored to your needs.
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