We can assume that everything that is subject to free sale is not only authorised, but also edible. But edible does not mean that it is also "good for the health", and it is typical of the packaging, putting in the foreground all the merits of the products, and specifying instead, in small letters, the contraindications. As a real guide to buying what it is, a food label contains essential information, since a decree of 1984 allows you to answer the basic questions: the composition of the food and its expiry date.
The problem, however, is that if there are many of us who know how to read on the Internet, we are no longer able to "read" a food package. Or, at least, our eyes are attracted by the "flashy" packaging, by the headlines, and not by the information printed on the back of the package, and which are written so small, that first we have to go and look for the glasses, and then take 10 minutes to read them!
The regulations
By law, the label must include several mandatory mentions on the description of the food. The producer 
must ensure that they are indicated on the label:
- The percentage of ingredients, but reported in the foreground in the designation, in descending order of weight (from reading the label of a self-styled yoghurt on which we read the words "rich in fruit", we learn that it actually contains only 5.7% of concentrated fruit puree!).
- The additives and their function, and whether they are natural or artificial.
- The main allergenic ingredients (gluten, shellfish, soya, etc.).
- The name and address of a responsible person (for complaints).
- The date of manufacture and the date of minimum durability or, in the case of highly perishable foodstuffs, the final date of consumption and particulars for storage.
Misleading labels
Animal fat, sugar: some ingredients do not sell much, while others (fruit, vegetables) ensure the sale. Thus, the producers, in order to make a product look less 
sugary, divide the words "sugar" on the one hand, and "glucose syrup" on the other. And to make a child's biscuit appear "richer in fruit", they fill it with the words "fruit preparation", even if the presence of fruit is minimal... All the tricks are good! One thing is certain: the "captivating" food product tries to put in the foreground all the qualities of the product itself, and to hide its defects.
Deceptive labels: how to defend oneself
The choice of a box of lentils or a pack of appetizers for the aperitif, requires a lot of knowledge, reading, writing, biochemistry, nutrition. And then marketing, economics and the legal aspects of competition and consumption... So don't trust the images of the packaging and advertising claims. Check the quantity of the main ingredient, which makes you want to buy the product. Read between the lines and go and study a little more carefully the labels of products that scream "5 fruits and vegetables a day" or "reduced content of ...".
Good news
Yes, you can make compotes without coloring, biscuits really pure butter, pure fruit juices without adding anything, because in this case, we speak of "fruit juice"...
Learn more
www.securiteconso.org (Consumer Safety Commission)
