THE Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act of 1972 regulates, among other things, the labelling of food products in South Africa.But until 2012, the issue of food labelling was not of particular consequence. Then came new and improved labelling regulations and subsequent legislation, such as the Consumer Protection Act, which highlighted the need for full disclosure to the consumer.Consumers are now much more aware of what information must be on the label of their daily groceries. As a result, the duty of the manufacturer to disclose fully the nutritional content of foodstuffs has been placed under the microscope and consumers have become more selective about what they feed themselves and their families.But the regulations did more than just ensure a higher level of disclosure. They levelled the playing field between manufacturers insofar as the claims they may make in relation to their products are concerned.For instance, the words "wholesome", "nutritious" and "healthy", or a...
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