Key question
What information must appear on food packaging, and what size does it need to be?
In Switzerland, food products require specific information, primarily governed by the Food Information Ordinance (LIV). If any details are missing, an entire batch may be unsaleable. This section provides a simplified overview; legal verification remains the responsibility of the manufacturer.
Learning objective: You can name the most important mandatory food information in simple terms, place it legibly and create a barcode correctly.
Mandatory information is part of the design.
6.1 / What is mandatory
Simplified: the essentials according to LIV.
In simple terms, the LIV primarily requires the following information for prepacked food:
01
Product description
States what the product is, such as "peppermint herbal tea", not just a fancy name.
02
Ingredients & Allergens
Ingredients in descending order of weight; allergens highlighted in the list, for example in bold.
03
Quantity & Date
Net quantity, best-before or use-by date, and lot number.
04
Origin & Manufacturer
Country of production, as well as the name and address of the responsible company.
Depending on the product, storage and preparation instructions and nutritional information are also included; everything is provided in at least one official language. Pure herbal teas with no additional ingredients are generally exempt from the requirement to provide nutritional information.
A fanciful name does not replace a descriptive name.
6.2 / Place clearly legibly
Mandatory also means: legible.
Mandatory information must be clearly visible, easily legible, and indelible. In simple terms, a minimum font size with an x-height of 1.2 mm applies, or slightly less on very small packages. Contrast and background are just as important as size.
Depending on the quantity, the digits for the net quantity have a minimum height, for example, 3 mm for quantities over 50 g up to 200 g. The EAN barcode requires a minimum size, high contrast, and clear quiet zones on the left and right.
01
Highlight allergens
Highlight allergens in the ingredients list typographically, for example in bold.
02
Net quantity
Quantity in g or ml, clearly visible and in the prescribed font size.
03
EAN barcode
The barcode requires a minimum size, contrast, and a clear quiet zone.
Legibility is a must, beauty is a bonus.
6.3 / The Checklist
Systematic instead of relying on memory.
What information is required depends on the type of product: a plain herbal tea requires less than a chilled drink. A checklist helps ensure nothing is missed and facilitates coordination with the manufacturer.
The list in the tool is simplified and does not replace legal verification. Responsibility for accurate information lies with the manufacturer; you provide them with a clear draft for review.
Have it checked before printing.
Exercise
Plan the back
Task: Design the back of the packaging for a variety of "Alpenkraut", including all mandatory information.
STEP 1
Use the checklist to gather all the necessary details for the variety.
STEP 2
Define a quiet zone for mandatory information and barcodes.
STEP 3
Set the text with an x-height of at least 1.2 mm and check it in print.
STEP 4
Mark open questions for review by the manufacturer.
Evaluation: Does a person with an allergy find the most important information straight away?