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This leaflet has been prepared for the guidance of traders by the Northern Counties Chief Trading Standards Officers Group. It is not an authoritative document on the law and is only intended for guidance. 

FOOD TO WHICH THIS LEAFLET APPLIES

This leaflet applies to the labelling and marking of pre-packed food which is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer or to a catering establishment. It does not apply to food which is packed on the premises from which it is sold.

WHAT IS A QUID DECLARATION?

A QUID declaration shows the percentage of an ingredient or category of ingredients in a product. Such a declaration enables a consumer to make a more informed choice from similar products.

WHEN IS A QUID DECLARATION REQUIRED?

A QUID declaration will be required in the following circumstances:

Where an ingredient appears in the name of the food, e.g.

Pork in a "pork sausage"

Peaches in a "peach yoghurt"

Mushrooms in a "mushroom pizza"

Where the category of ingredients appears in the name of the food. Categories of ingredients will include "cheese", "fish", "fruit", "meat", "nuts" and "vegetables", e.g.

Vegetables in a "vegetable pasty"

Fish in "fish fingers"

Meat in a "meat pie"

If a compound ingredient (an ingredient which itself is made up of a number of ingredients) appears in the name of the food, the compound ingredient will require a QUID declaration. For example a QUID declaration for "seafood" will be required for "seafood lasagne". If an ingredient of the compound ingredient is also named, then this other ingredient will require a QUID declaration. For example a QUID declaration for "cream filling" and "butter" will be required for "biscuits with cream filling (contain butter)".

When a product is identified by a customary name alone, i.e. a name which is sufficient for customers to know what the food is without further explanation, then a QUID declaration may still be required even though no ingredients have been identified in the name. A declaration will be required where an ingredient or category of ingredients is usually associated with the food name by the consumer e.g.

A declaration for "fruit" in "summer pudding"

A declaration for "mutton" in "Lancashire hot pot"

Where the ingredient or category of ingredients is emphasised on the label in words or pictures.

This will include:

Flashes such as "with extra cream" or "made with real butter"

A picture showing just one or a few ingredients e.g. the label of a mixed fruit yoghurt only showing strawberries.

It will not include:

Serving suggestions

Pictures showing all the ingredients

Warnings for allergy sufferers

A QUID declaration will not be required in the following circumstances:

Where a product in a liquid medium (water, fruit juice, vinegar, ice etc.) shows both the drained net weight and the net weight. This exemption will not apply if the product is a mixture of ingredients e.g. mixed vegetables, where one ingredient is emphasised or is more prominent by weight.

Where the quantities of an ingredient or category of ingredients has already been given under:

The Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars Regulations 1977

The Jam and Similar Products Regulations 1981

The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1995.

Where the ingredient or category of ingredients is used in small quantities for the purpose of flavouring. Flavourings is not confined to additives, and small quantities are deemed to be 2% or less by weight at the mixing bowl stage.

Products which will be covered include, garlic bread, ready salted crisps and lemon cake (even if the label has pictures of lemons on it).

When an ingredient or category of ingredients appears in the name of the food, but the quantity of ingredient will not govern the consumer’s choice or distinguish one product from another.

This exemption will only apply if the ingredient appears in the name of the food. It will not apply if the ingredient is emphasised elsewhere on the label, e.g. pictorially.

Cases where this will apply include:

Wholemeal bread

Single cereal breakfast cereals e.g. cornflakes

Highly processed sauces and pickles

Products which mention several minor ingredients in the name

Where the food is a mixture of fruit, vegetables, nuts, spices or herbs with no ingredient predominating significantly by weight.

Where the product is required to be labelled "with sweetener(s)" or "with sugar(s) and sweetener(s)" then a QUID declaration will not be required for the sweeteners or sugars.

Where the level of vitamins or minerals, or other nutritional information e.g. fat, fibre etc., is given in a nutritional panel then a QUID declaration for these items will not be required.

A QUID declaration cannot replace any requirement to have nutritional labelling.

ARE MEAT PRODUCTS AFFECTED BY QUID?

Yes – meat products are affected by QUID in the same way as other products, but the following should also be noted.

Under the Meat Products and Spreadable Fish Products Regulations 1984 the minimum meat, fish or corned meat content must be indicated on pre-packed and non pre-packed food. The QUID amendments provide a defence for a failure to give such a declaration if a QUID declaration is given instead. This will only apply if the QUID declaration covers all the meat components of a food as the consumer will be able to calculate the total meat content simply by adding up the various elements. If the meat content cannot be ascertained from QUID declarations, then a minimum meat content will still be required.

This provision will also apply to non pre-packed or pre-packed for direct sale goods.

HOW ARE QUID DECLARATIONS CALCULATED?

There are two methods for calculating a QUID declaration.

MIXING BOWL METHOD

The weight of the ingredient is divided by the total weight of all the ingredients, minus the weight of water or other volatile ingredients lost during manufacture.

Example:

The fish content of a fish finger;

Formula

70 x 100 = 62.5% fish

112

FOODS WHICH LOSE MOISTURE FOLLOWING HEAT OR OTHER TREATMENT

Where a product loses moisture after production e.g. cakes or bread losing steam, the QUID declaration must be made on the basis of the amount of the ingredient at the mixing bowl stage as a percentage of the weight of the finished product.

Example:

The butter content of a biscuit made with real butter;

 Formula

50  x 100 = 29.6% butter

169

WHERE SHOULD THE QUID DECLARATION BE SHOWN?

The indication may accompany the name of the food or be in the ingredients list.

The declaration may be rounded to the nearest whole number of to the nearest 0.5 decimal place where it is below 5%.

WHEN DOES A QUID DECLARATION BECOME COMPULSORY?

QUID declarations are compulsory on all goods which are pre-packed after February 14^th, 2000.

EXAMPLES OF LABELS

October 2000