When buying foodstuffs you have the right to know exactly what you are buying and certain essential information such as ingredients and expiry date must be provided. The information available on the label helps you to make an informed choice when buying food products.

What do I need to know about products that make health claims?

• As of 2007, any health or nutritional claims (such as 'low fat', 'high fibre' 'light/lite' or simply 'natural') on a food or drink label must be clear, accurate and substantiated, that is proven and true.

• The label of such products must indicate any special nutritional characteristics.

• If the label describes the composition of the food or drink as being intended for particular nutritional uses, then it must really be appropriate for the particular nutritional use intended.

What do I need to know about the expiry date?

The expiry date must be clearly indicated on the label or package. The indicated date shows the last day by when the foodstuff can be sold. This is normally indicated by the words 'Best before...'. Food products with a short shelf-life, though not all, must state clearly the 'Use by...' date.

Examples of short shelf-life products that are not required to be labelled with an expiry date include fresh fruit, vegetables, vinegar, cooking salt, bread, some items of confectionery and individual ice-cream portions.

For further information contact the European Consumer Centre of Malta and the Consumers Association at 47a South Street, Valletta, tel: 2122 1901, e-mail ecc.malta@gov.mt or info@camalta.org, or visit www.camalta.org.

You can also phone the Consumer and Competition Division on freephone 8007 4400 or the Department of Public Health, 37/39 Rue d'Argens, Msida (tel: 2133 7333/e-mail: complaintsph@gov.mt).

Across the EU, consumers have rights. Insist on yours.

This article is intended for information purposes only. Any legal claim or action taken in the event of a dispute should be based solely on the legal texts concerned.