PROGRESSIVE FOOD LABELLING

Food labelling has gone a long, long way since the beginning of the past century. Traditional food labelling for everyday consumption goods was a mere piece of paper glued to the food container. Only few products such as medicines and cookies packed on cans showed a more elaborated form of food labelling. This kind of food labelling became almost an art form currently sought by antique’s collectors. Painted floral patterns and elaborated lettering was common of early 1900s food labelling.

Only the growing need for cheaper containers, both quick and easy to manufacture, introduced a change in food labelling techniques. Food labelling also got help from developing technologies and materials. New glues and adhesives, inks and even machinery made the food labelling process faster and more elaborated. Food labelling was even an important part of military efforts. Armies left back the rolling kitchens and fed troops with canned food to ease the logistic pressure. Food labelling characteristics were then introduced to every kind of packed goods or equipment. Soldiers could know what they’ve been supplied with by the data printed on containers. Later, with wider world commerce, food labelling evolved to meet foreign countries’ needs. Information food labelling supplied was translated as needed for easier storage, transport and use.

Later due to the constant increase in the use of plastic containers, food labelling was fused with the packing. This led to a better and wider creative use of such synthetic material. Now food labelling designers could use again cheap simple packing with new printing techniques. They created a colourful, attractive food labelling trend very different from the past ones. Now food labelling became part of the Pop culture, even being shown as art. Food labelling has evolved into something more than mere printed information. It has become part of the modern day consumer’s image of what a food product must have.