We have been recently providing a lot of information about food labeling because it is such an important part of the labeling world. The FDA has strict mandates in terms of what products can have on their label. When the rules are followed, everyone is happy. When they aren’t, there can be backlash.
Ocean Spray has recently felt the effects of incorrect labeling. The National Consumers League sent a letter to the USDA requesting an inquiry into Ocean Spray’s “Choice” brand. Allegedly, the dried cranberry product has added sugar and is made from cranberry skins and not whole cranberries. Sally Greenberg, The National Consumers League executive director stated, “That is a problem for people who are buying a product they think has cranberries when in fact, it’s really no longer cranberry.”
The interesting thing about this story is that an anonymous “whistle-blower” brought the cranberries to a lab in Massachusetts and had the contents tested and reviewed. The test revealed some alleged false labeling claims.
This is why we always stress truth in labeling. Ocean Spray now has to defend a product or rebrand/repackage the product to reflect it’s true contents. An Ocean Spray spokesperson feels the company is, “pretty sure we accurately label to the food manufacturer.” Ocean Spray may be right about it’s labeling claims, but only additional research or information will verify the ingredients.
Cranberries are the perfect topic for the week of Thanksgiving, so we are thankful this article appeared in our local paper. It shows that we aren’t crazy when we tell you to get your food product tested at a reputable lab and provide all the findings, good or bad, on the product’s label!
Since we often work with fruit and vegetable companies to provide labels on actual pieces of produce and labels for packaging, like plastic clamshells that usually hold berries or salad. Over the last year, the USDA began to require fresh produce and meats to have a “Country of Origin Label” or COOL. The labels were intended to inform consumers as to where the fresh commodity they are purchasing comes from.
Sounds like a good idea, right? Well, it is a good idea, except that the USDA made the requirements so confusing that a lot of growers, packers, and grocers aren’t correctly labeling the commodities. In essence, any fresh fruit, vegetable, or meat product (beef, poultry, pork, etc.) that has not been processed must have a COOL. In theory this is very simple, but one in four grocers aren’t in compliance and about 20% of growers and packers are also supplying incorrect labels.
In terms of COOL, the devil is in the details. First, if two commodities are packaged together, they don’t need a COOL. For example, fresh packed salads (you know, the ones with all the ingredients in one package), don’t require a COOL because it is considered processed. Meat that has been cured doesn’t require a COOL, nor does dried fruit, all because they are considered processed.
The only commodities that do require COOL are fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats that have not been mixed with another fresh commodity or had any additives to change the item’s natural state. Sounds simple? Wait, did I mention that some frozen items also have to have COOL? Also, if you have items that travel through multiple countries, where is the country of origin? And, if an item is cut or chopped and packaged, it also needs a COOL? This is simple law isn’t so simple after all.
The biggest issue facing the COOL requirement is that many grocers don’t know the country of origin, so they can’t properly label the product. Since a shipment could go through multiple people by the time it reaches a grocery store, the country of origin might no longer be known. Additionally, some products, like bananas, might come from multiple countries on a rotating basis, so keeping up with the origins is difficult. The USDA is working to have growers and packers label the products before they reach grocers, hoping to reduce non-compliance because of unknown origins.
In the world of labeling, this is a great example of how a simple idea can become very complicated when implemented. Growers and packers work quickly to move produce through their warehouses, so items from different countries mingle and origins are lost. The USDA is working hard to help businesses comply with the new laws, but like everything, this will take time. If you have any questions about COOL or any other type of food label, please feel free to contact us.
You may wonder where we have been the last few weeks?? Well, we are about to launch are newly re-designed website next week. Once the new site is launched, you will see our regular updates, along with great features and a lot more products. Please bookmark our new web address:
Also, if you aren’t on our email list, let us know. We will be sending lots of promotional discounts and specials to celebrate our new website. Happy labeling!
The Team@InTouch Labels (formally In-Touch Direct)
In the printing world, there is often a conflict between the graphic designer and the print shop. Many times the designer supplies the finished artwork in a format that the printer may find difficult to work with. This causes delays, confusion, frustration and most importantly, extra money for the customer.
Taking a few extra steps to ensure the art files are prepared correctly can eliminate these issues. It is important for designers and printers to work together. Surprisingly, artwork issues are a hot debate topic in the design and printing world because many designers feel the printer is not clear in regards to their specifications, while the printer may feel the designer has ignored their art requirements.
Very few companies, In-Touch Direct being one of them, offer free graphic design services. This allows us to ensure the artwork is setup correctly for the intended printing method. If a service like this is not available, here are a few tips to keep things running smoothly.
Check the Specs
Every print shop has different art requirements. For some, an eps or native file is necessary, while others can use a pdf or jpeg without issue. Some may require color separations or need all text converted to outline. All of these requirements are important because it can be the difference between a “job well done” and an incorrect final product with an unhappy customer.
Some printers have artwork specifications readily available on their website. In these cases, make sure the art files meets the requirements and there should be no problems. Additionally, as a designer, don’t hesitate to contact the print shop to ensure the art is in the correct format.
Not all designers have the luxury of knowing who is going to print the final job. In these cases, the responsibility falls to the customer. The customer must be able to provide the art specifications from their printer. If the customer hasn’t chosen a printer, the designer should suggest the customer speak with some printers, get quotes and decide on a printer they feel comfortable working with. This will give the customer some art specifications to share with the designer.
Still, there may be some customers who haven’t chosen a printer, leaving the designer with no specific art requirements. In these cases, there are a few basic rules most designers should follow.
Outline All Text
Not all printers have the same fonts in the their font libraries as a designer. When a printer does not have a font used in a piece of art, their system automatically replaces the missing font with a font in the printer’s library. This can drastically change the look of the printed piece. The easiest way for a designer to avoid this is to convert all the text to “outline.” Converting the text to outline essentially changes it from a font to a vector image, which can be easily printed without altering the design.
When the design program used doesn’t allow outline conversion, the designer should send a zipped file including the art in its native format and all the fonts used. This will allow the final printer to load the fonts on their computer without losing time or spending money to purchase the missing fonts.
Use Pantone Colors
It is easy to select a color from the rainbow, figuring any red will do, but in the design and printing industries, the slightest change in a color can mean big problems. To avoid any issues, always use Pantone colors. Pantone colors, or PMS (Pantone Matching System) colors ensure the designer and printer are using the exact color requested by the customer.
When artwork is running four-color process, the designer should make sure all files have been converted to CMYK.
File Formats
Artwork can be saved in many different formats from a jpeg, pdf or eps to a tiff, gif, psd, ai, and more. Each format can have a different impact on the printing. Many printers prefer a “native” file, meaning the original format the art was created in. So, if a designer uses Adobe Illustrator, the file should be an Illustrator (ai) file. Another preferred format is an eps (encapsulated postscript). An eps is a versatile file format that holds the text and images within the file without losing information.
If you are not able to determine the preferred file format, it is best to provide your customer with a pdf, eps, and the native file format. Many programs, like Illustrator and Photoshop easily allow you save artwork in multiple formats. This will give the customer file options when consulting a printer.
It is our hope that this article will help to educate designers, printers and customers to ensure artwork can be easily transferred from the art department to the printing press without error or delays. When possible, try to have an open line of communication between the designer and printer. This will help guarantee a superior finished piece and a happy customer who will be eager to work with you again.
Kroger has recently announced a partnership with HarvestMark, the leading system in food traceability. This is exciting news because we are a HarvestMark certified printer, giving us the ability to print traceability labels for the fresh food industry.
Kroger has begun selling their own “Fresh Selections” brand of pre-washed and ready-to-serve packaged salads. In an effort to give customers more information about where their food is coming from, Kroger has implemented HarvestMark’s premiere traceability solution.
Each bag will carry a 16-digit code that customers can enter into HarvestMark.com to find out exactly where the salad came from, including the date and time the product was packed.
“Kroger continues to be a leader in offering customers innovative food safety tools and resources. Food safety is a top priority at Kroger. Our partnership with HarvestMark makes it easy for customers who are interested to learn more about the food they purchase for themselves and their families,” said Joe Grieshaber, VP of Kroger’s meat, seafood, deli and produce departments.
This is an exciting partnership. HarvestMark has a superior traceability system, truly aimed at educating consumers and preventing food borne illness outbreaks that have plagued the US food market for the past few years. If you would like to learn more about HarvestMark, please visit their website or contact us and we can tell you more about the solution, labels and how it can help your business.
We are big fans of QR (quick response) codes because they open companies up to a plethora of marketing and cross-promotional ideas. They are slowing catching on in the US and will probably become much more popular in the coming months and years.
I came across a good article outlining the benefits of QR codes and thought it would be beneficial to share some of the concepts…
QR codes provide a medium to easily connect people to your online benefits, even if they aren’t at a computer. The user doesn’t have to write down an address or try to type it into a phone browser because the code points (pun intended) you in the right direction, with minimal effort. Additionally, it is very easy to forward a text message and share the QR code with friends.
Since in the US this is fairly new technology, many consumers may scan codes just for fun and exploration. This could lead to new customers that businesses may have not intentionally targeted. Furthermore, good prospects, both intentional and unintentional will be able to get extra information about the product, leading to an informed purchase, almost immediately. Consumers won’t have to wait till they get home to “learn more” about the item they are interested in.
For marketers, QR codes are easy to track and analyze. Unlike many print campaigns, which can provide “estimates” about viewership, responsiveness, etc., QR codes can provide solid traceable data including geographical and demographical information. This type of data is priceless to many in the advertising and marketing business.
Aside from being cool technology and giving your company the 21st century edge, it is also considered a “green” form of marketing because consumers can use the web to get more information, reducing the need for detailed brochures or long product descriptions. For many companies, this could be a driving force in trying QR codes.
Lastly, and this isn’t something the article touched on, but QR codes have proven to provide very high return rates when compared to traditional print media. That could be because it is new technology or because it is more accessible (probably a combination of both), but that is a very important aspect to the concept. At the end of the day, if the technology doesn’t provide a return on investment, it won’t work. We think QR codes are worth the hype and will certainly prove to be a useful and successful tool.
http://www.scrantontimes.com/news/1.356135
The Scranton Times had a good article today about a settlement that was finally reached in a class action lawsuit brought forward by a group of label printers. According to the article, “The suit, which has international implications for the adhesive products industry, alleged the defendants conspired to restrict competition in the U.S. market for pressure-sensitive label stock through price manipulation.” The defendants included Avery Denison of Pasadena, CA who agreed to pay $36.5 million and Morgan Adhesive Co. of Stow, OH who agreed to pay $1.25 million in damages. The total settlement amounted to $46 million.
You don’t hear a lot about cases like this with a David and Goliath feel…very interesting.
We have had a few posts about the Smart Choices food labeling program introduced in conjunction with Kellogg, General Mills and Kraft foods. In our last post we noted that products were receiving the “Smart Choice” label that did not seem like a smart choice. Well, it turns out the FDA agrees with us. Approved items like Fruit Loops and Cocoa Puffs have set off an investigation into the Smart Choices program and how it may negatively direct consumers to products.
The FDA feels the program may be misleading consumers about how healthy a product is for them. As we previously noted, the people at Smart Choices defended labeling sugary cereals like Fruit Loops because they were a better choice than some other cereals. While this may be true, they are certainly not healthy. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg stated, “There are products that have gotten the Smart Choices check mark that are almost 50 percent sugar.” It is understandable why they would think this could be a case of inaccurate food labeling.
We always felt the program wasn’t sustainable or credible since it allowed blatantly unhealthy food choices gain approval. Additionally, it is always suspect when the companies sponsoring the program are also vying for the check mark. This seems like a big conflict of interest.
With that in mind, the FDA is hoping to develop a standardized system that all food manufacturers would have to meet in order to gain “approval” from a system like Smart Choices. One idea is to model the UK’s traffic light system – using red, yellow and green to illustrate nutritional value.
While some of us might not want the government setting a standard, it seems like the best way to ensure consumers are getting true and accurate information. To date, there are about six different labeling programs from groups like the American Heart Association, the Healthy Ideas Box and the Nutritional IQ logo. All of these different programs lead to confusion. If we truly want a system that will work for everyone, it must be standardized. The standards set would provide companies with real incentives to make a product healthier, which ultimately benefits everyone.
What do you think of the Smart Choices program and the proposed standardized system?
A recent article in the New York Times highlighted major adhesive issues with the state’s registration stickers. The issue at hand: the stickers don’t stick. Many drivers have resorted to using tape or glue to help adhere the stickers, but to no avail. So, what’s the big deal? If a driver is found without a registration sticker, they are given a ticket. Even more importantly, tickets can be issued by transportation police who ticket parked vehicles, leaving owners no easy recourse or defense. The average ticket ranges from $50 to $100.
Here is the crazy thing, two different manufacturers printed the stickers and there are defects with both lots. David J. Swarts, the commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles said, “Why both happened at the same time – two different vendors, two different process, two different types of stickers – it’s really a bizarre occurrence. When people are paying fees and fees are going up, it makes people frustrated and angry.”
The two companies that made the stickers are also struggling to figure out what happened. Unlike construction projects or other industries where government waste and neglect can sometimes occur, printing this type of decal is not a lucrative job. There are generally tight margins because it can be a competitive bidding process; therefore, vendors work hard to get the job done correctly. To date, both companies are working to resolve the issue by either replacing the defective decals or issuing a credit to the state.
Without seeing the stickers, it is hard for us to even guess what happened. It is highly unusual that both companies would have decals with problems. There could be a stock supplier, etc. in common that provided both with faulty materials, but I would think that would be an easy link to determine. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. This is such a big issue because the tickets given out are not fair to drivers who did everything right.
What do you think about the stickers that just won’t stick?
I thought this was a great design to post (courtesy of The Die Line) on a cold and rainy Friday afternoon. The classic styling of the wine label has a warm and cozy feel. You can almost imagine a warm kitchen with a roaring fire and roast in the oven. The designer wanted “an unpretentious ‘every day feeling’ and to open a window to the smells, sounds and impressions of a simple life in the countryside.” I think the designers (DesignersJourney) completely captured their goal with this label. Great job!
Now, just a few more hours till we can open a nice bottle of wine like this!