Half of checked food 'incorrectly labelled'

A number of grocery product labels were checked to ensure they listed accurate information

More than half of food products assessed in a county were found to be incorrectly labelled, a watchdog has revealed.

Trading Standards collected 90 samples from more than 40 businesses across Oxfordshire between 2023-24.

The service checks whether products list accurate nutritional information and do not contain undeclared allergens, such as peanuts or milk.

It found 52 percent of items failed to comply with food standards laws.

A variety of products were checked, including seasonings, spices, milk, canned vegetables, tea, rice, and foods labelled "gluten-free".

Issues identified by the body included "best before end" dates printed in an incorrect format and mandatory food information not being provided in English.

Some labels were found to be missing "instructions for use" and had incorrect nutritional information.

General non-specific health claims had also been used without due evidence to back them up, Oxfordshire County Council said.

'A matter of life or death'

Nathan Ley, the council's member for public health, inequalities and safety, said ensuring food was labelled accurately was "crucial".

"Whether intentional or not, an unreported allergen or misleading labelling can have severe consequences for both consumers and companies, making it crucial to understand and follow the laws," he said.

"Sometimes, it can literally be a matter of life or death."

Affected businesses either worked with Trading Standards to resolve the issues, or were reported to the Food Standards Agency, the authority confirmed.