What’s in your food

Most of us care about what goes in our food whether we’re shopping at the supermarket, cooking at home, or eating out with friends and family.

The ingredients in food influence how it tastes and to an extent the price we pay. Importantly, food ingredients in Europe – from additives and flavourings to those derived from new technologies – must be proven safe before they go in food.

Some ingredients are perfectly safe for most of us but can be harmful to people with food allergies, intolerances, or special medical conditions.

As well as the nutritional content of packaged food, allergens and intolerances must be indicated on product labels and on menus at food outlets so people with those conditions can make safe food choices.