FRONT-OF-PACK LABELING OF FOOD PRODUCTS: EVOLUTION, CHARACTERISTICS, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

In the dynamic landscape of the food industry, front-of-pack labeling serves as a crucial tool for "dialogue" between producers and consumers. This mechanism helps to quickly and efficiently identify nutritional characteristics and serves as an effective tool for promoting healthy eating practices through an accessible and universal language. In this context, an exploratory study was conducted by analyzing scientific works on food labeling systems, including their evolution, the characteristics of different labeling typologies, the evaluation methods as well as the challenges and prospects for the development of food labels in the future. Each labeling typology had different attributes that represent an essential tool for supporting consumers in making food choices and in promoting a healthy lifestyle, both at the individual level and in terms of public health. To establish an integrated labeling system for food products, future research should focus on improving the universal applicability of labeled items and environmental sustainability, to make labels more digital and modern in the context of ongoing social and climate change.