National health body asks consumers to read nutritional information on food labels

Consumers shop at a supermarket in Qingzhou, East China's Shandong province, Sept 10, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

The National Health Commission has called on the public to pay attention to the levels of fat, saturated fat, sodium, and sugar indicated on food packaging, as updated labeling standards for prepackaged foods will be gradually implemented nationwide.

Yang Jinrui, spokesman for the commission, said during a news conference that a revised version of the general rules for nutrition labeling of prepackaged foods will take effect on March 16, 2027, and enterprises are encouraged to adopt the new standards earlier.

A key update in the revised rules is the requirement to list saturated fat and sugar as core components of nutritional information labeling.

Yang added that labeling will also specify how much of a nutrient in a single serving contributes to the recommended daily intake.

He said food companies are encouraged to use digital labels, enabling consumers to access detailed product information by scanning a QR code.

Digital labels will support adjustable font sizes, voice recognition, and video playback functions, making them particularly user-friendly and convenient for elderly consumers with poor vision.

Yang emphasized that developing the habit of reading nutritional information on food labels can contribute to safeguarding individual and family health.