You have probably found yourself standing with countless food packages, trying to make sense of the ingredient list on the back.
However, food ingredient lists can be packed with all kinds of E-numbers and additives. And that can often make it difficult for you as a consumer to know exactly what you are eating around the dinner table.
That is why, in this article, we have put together a guide that explains what an ingredient list should contain, as well as how to read and understand it.
Why is it important to be able to read an ingredient list on food?
All food products are required to declare their contents, and there are several reasons for this.
If you have a food allergy for instance, it is essential to know exactly what different food products contain.
It can also be relevant if you are trying to avoid certain ingredients. For example, if you want to reduce your sugar intake.
An ingredient list therefore creates transparency between the food producer and you as a consumer. And this is undoubtedly the most important function of an ingredient list.
It gives you direct insight into which ingredients the product is made from, which ingredients make up the largest proportion, and whether any additional substances have been added to the food.
The order of ingredients on the ingredient list matters
One of the most important things to know about the ingredient list on your food is that the ingredients are listed in order of weight.
This means that the more an ingredient weighs, the higher up it appears on the ingredient list.
This allows you to quickly see what a food product primarily consists of.
Imagine, for example, that you are looking at the ingredient lists of two products that both contain mango.
If mango is listed as the first ingredient in one product, it means that the product primarily consists of mango. However, if mango is listed further down on the other product’s ingredient list, you can conclude that it mainly consists of other ingredients.
What does it mean when the ingredient list includes percentages?
Some ingredient lists include percentages, which is known as QUID (Quantitative Ingredient Declaration).
If a product is marketed with a particular vegetable as a key ingredient, the percentage can give you a better idea of how much of that ingredient the product contains.
At MATR, we also use percentages in our own ingredient list:
Legumes 38% (pea*, lupin*), root vegetables 38% (potato*, beetroot*), gluten-free oats* 19%.
Water, reduced beetroot juice*, salt, thyme*, garlic powder*, mushroom culture.
Allergens in the ingredient list
If you have an allergy to specific ingredients, it is particularly important to check the ingredient list. For example, our products contain gluten-free oats to accommodate people who are sensitive to gluten.
In fact, there are 14 allergens that must be clearly indicated on ingredient lists. You can find them below:
- Cereals containing gluten
- Milk
- Eggs
- Soybeans
- Peanuts
- Nuts
- Celery
- Mustard
- Sesame
- Lupin
- Fish
- Crustaceans
- Molluscs
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites above the specified threshold
Allergens are often highlighted in bold on the ingredient list, making them a lot easier to spot.
What does “may contain traces of” mean?
When reading ingredient lists, you may sometimes come across the phrase “may contain traces of”.
This generally means that the product does not intentionally contain the ingredient mentioned, but there may be a small risk that minimal traces of it are present.
For example, you may come across a statement saying that a product may contain traces of nuts. If you are allergic to nuts, it is therefore really important to read the ingredient list carefully.
The nutrition declaration
Remember to distinguish between the nutrition declaration and the ingredient list on food products.
A nutrition declaration tells you how much sugar, fat and protein your food product contains per 100 g.
However, a product rarely weighs exactly 100 g, so keep in mind that the actual amount will vary depending on the product's actual weight.
Dietary fibre can also be included in the nutrition declaration on your food product, although it is not a requirement.
On MATR's packaging, we have chosen to include dietary fibre alongside carbohydrates, sugars, fat and protein. See the full nutritional information from MATR to learn more about how our products are composed.
When can you no longer eat your food?
Close to the ingredient list, you will typically also find the production date and the best-before date.
Keep in mind that the dates stated on the product apply as long as the food is unopened and has been stored correctly.
“Best before” indicates the date until which the product is expected to retain its quality. If the date has passed, the product may still be safe to eat, especially if it has been stored correctly.
Sometimes you may even see the phrase “often good after”.
Have you found yourself in a situation where the best-before date has passed and you think the food might still be edible?
Smell the food: If it smells bad, you should throw it away.
Look closely at the food: The food should be thrown away if it has developed an unusual colour or appearance.
Taste a small amount: If it tastes bad, you should of course not use it in your cooking.
You may also find the term “use by” on the packaging of your food. This is often displayed near the ingredient list.
If the use-by date has passed, you should not eat the food.
Why is a short ingredient list like MATR’s an advantage?
Once an ingredient list is easy to understand, it becomes much easier to get a proper insight into what you are eating.
It also makes it easier to make informed choices about your food and decide which ingredients you want to include or avoid, depending on your own preferences and needs.
It can also give you greater confidence in what you are eating, because you recognise the ingredients and understand what they are used for.
For us, a short ingredient list is first and foremost about transparency. We believe it should be easy to understand exactly what’s in the food you buy and eat.
At MATR, we have chosen to keep our ingredient list particularly short. Our products are made from a few carefully selected organic ingredients.
You will find absolutely no additives or E-numbers in our products.
Instead, you get a delicious umami flavour, a great texture and a juicy bite.
Are you ready to try MATR in your cooking? Find our products here.
Frequently asked questions
What should be included in a food label?
A food label should provide information about the product’s ingredients, allergens, net quantity, shelf life and nutritional content.
What is an ingredient list?
An ingredient list is a list of all the ingredients used in a food product. They are listed in descending order according to the amount they contribute to the overall product.
What rules apply to ingredient lists?
Ingredients must always be listed in descending order by weight, and allergens must be clearly highlighted.
Can food be kept in the refrigerator for 5 days?
Yes, some types of food can last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, especially when stored correctly at around 5°C or below. However, how long food remains safe to eat depends on the type of food.
What are the 14 allergens?
The 14 allergens are cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide/sulphites, lupin and molluscs. You can read more about them in the article above.