What is a Food Safety Label?

A food safety label is a label found on food packages sold in the United States that provides information about food storage, handling, and preparation needed to maintain food safety. The food safety labels serve as a safety alert to consumers to help them avoid the risk of foodborne illness through safe food handling.

In the U.S., food safety labeling for the majority of food products is overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while certain categories of food, such as meat and poultry, are subject to food safety labeling by the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Some examples of the information available on a food safety label are-

• Safe Handling (especially meat, poultry, and fish).
• Storage Directions (Keep Refrigerated or Keep Frozen).
• How to cook and recommended internal cooking temperatures.
• Expiration or Use By dates.
• Allergen alerts (to alert consumers if there are allergenic ingredients in the product).

Food safety labels benefit both consumers and food businesses by promoting safe food handling, reducing the risk of contamination, and supporting public health and regulatory compliance.

Why Are Safe Handling Instruction Labels Important?

Safe Handling Instruction Labels on food are also a critical part of these products because they give instructions on how to handle raw food (such as meat and poultry) that may contain harmful bacteria until it is cooked or handled properly.

Safe Handling Instructions are recommended on food labels. They usually advise washing hands before handling food and after handling raw foods, preventing cross-contamination during preparation and cooking, refrigerating food as soon as possible after purchase, and cooking foods to a safe temperature.