How a Nutritional Profile Is Created – Reliable Data for Food Labeling
What is a nutritional profile?
A nutritional profile describes the precise composition of the key nutrients in a food product and forms the basis for accurate nutrition labeling. The guidelines of the European Food Information Regulation (FIC Regulation) play a central role here, as they clearly define which nutrient values must be declared. Transparent disclosure of energy content, fat, sugar, protein, and salt is particularly important. Compliance with these guidelines ensures that consumers receive reliable and comparable information.
The declaration of sugar has increasingly come into focus in recent years due to its relevance for dietary choices and health recommendations. Therefore, accurate measurement and labeling of sugar are essential components of a nutritional profile.
When is a nutritional profile needed?
A meaningful nutritional profile is indispensable when legally compliant nutrition labeling on packaging is required. The applicable guidelines mandate that nutrient values must be presented transparently and understandably for consumers. Reliable nutrient data, including accurate sugar content, are especially important when making health claims or nutrition-related statements.
Furthermore, nutritional profiles gain importance for online retail and export, where compliance with country-specific guidelines on nutrition labeling is a key prerequisite for market access. Accurate sugar content declaration is often a crucial factor in this context.
How is a nutritional profile created?
Different methods can be used to create a nutritional profile, each of which must comply with the requirements of nutrition labeling guidelines. Database calculation is based on raw material specifications, product formulations, and processing information and is well suited for products with standardized ingredients. Average sugar values of raw materials are also taken into account, as they can vary depending on cultivation and harvest conditions.
Laboratory analysis, on the other hand, measures nutrient contents—including the actual sugar content—directly in the product. This is particularly important when processing steps such as heating or fermentation alter the nutrient composition and the guidelines require exact nutrition labeling.
To ensure reliable nutrition labeling, a combination of both methods is often recommended to validate results and comprehensively meet guideline requirements.
Nutritional Profile at Tentamus: Our Services
The laboratories of the Tentamus Group offer comprehensive analyses precisely aligned with the legal requirements for nutrition labeling. We determine all relevant parameters, including energy content, fat, protein, and especially sugar content.
In addition to accurate analysis, we support you in implementing legal nutrition labeling requirements and help you design your product labels in compliance with the law. Express analyses are also available for fast results.
Database Calculation: When is it useful?
Database calculation is an efficient method for determining a nutritional profile when products are based on standardized recipes and no significant changes in nutrients—such as sugar—are expected during processing. This method meets the guideline requirements for many nutrition labeling applications.
More complex products, where actual sugar levels may vary due to processing or special ingredients, benefit from supplementary laboratory analyses. Our collaboration with VLB Berlin provides qualified database analysis as a complementary service that meets guideline standards but does not replace laboratory testing.
Request your nutritional profile now
Do you want to ensure reliable and legally compliant nutrition labeling with precise information—especially about sugar content? Contact us now for a customized offer and professional advice on the latest guidelines and the preparation of your nutritional profile.