Food Labels for Catering & Food Safety

Specific allergen labels can help identify foods containing or associated with allergens and provide a useful visual reminder to staff. However, labels should be used alongside appropriate allergen management procedures, accurate ingredient information and staff training rather than relied upon on their own.

Food labels help kitchen staff clearly identify stored and prepared foods and communicate important information such as preparation dates, opening dates and use-by information. A consistent labelling system can support food safety procedures, stock control and traceability while reducing the risk of staff using the wrong product.

This depends on your food safety procedures and the product being labelled. Common information includes the name of the food, date prepared or opened, use-by or discard date and the initials or name of the person who prepared it. Some businesses may need to record additional information.

Day labels provide a quick visual method of identifying food according to a particular day. They can be useful in busy kitchens where staff need to quickly recognise when products were prepared, opened or need to be used, according to the business's own food safety procedures.

Food rotation labels are used to identify when food was prepared, opened or needs to be used. They make it easier for staff to manage stock in date order and support First In, First Out (FIFO) stock rotation procedures.

Dissolvable food labels are designed to break down when exposed to water, making them ideal for reusable food containers that are regularly washed. They help prevent sticky adhesive residue being left behind during cleaning.

Removable food labels use an adhesive designed to peel away cleanly from containers and surfaces without leaving significant residue. They are useful when labels need to be removed quickly without washing and are particularly suitable for containers that are frequently relabelled.

Both can be used for food rotation and date coding; the best choice depends on how the container is cleaned and reused.

Yes. Accurate date labelling and stock rotation can make it easier to identify which products should be used first. This can prevent newer stock being used ahead of older stock and help reduce food being unnecessarily discarded.

Many food labels are designed for use on food storage containers in refrigerated environments, but suitability can vary between products. Check the individual label specification if you need it to withstand refrigeration, freezing, moisture or condensation.