Food Labelling Revision 2 Era: 2026 Updates and What You Need to Know

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry updated the Food Labelling and Consumer Information Regulation Guidelines on 13 March 2026 to make food labelling standards more transparent and secure. Following the November 2024 and July 2025 revisions, this “Revision 2” document introduces clauses that will directly impact the protection of children and out-of-home dining habits.

Key Changes Introduced by the New Guidelines:

1. Ban on Shapes Negatively Affecting Children’s Development

The Ministry is intervening not only in the content of the food but also in its presentation. Shapes that could impair children’s mental and social development, promote violence, or are unsuitable for child psychology (for example, foods or packaging shaped like weapons, skulls, eyes, or brains) can no longer be placed on the market.

• Exception: Positive symbols such as the evil eye bead (nazar) or smiley faces are exempt from this ban.

2. Cream, Creamsauce, and Vegetable Fat Blends

The ongoing debates over the definition of “cream” have been clarified with these guidelines.

• Traditional names: Customary names like “Hazelnut cream” remain protected.

• Pastry products: Products containing only milk fat can be labelled as “Pastry Cream”, whereas those containing vegetable fats must use terms such as “Powdered Mixture with Vegetable Fat” or “Pastry Filling”.

• Creamsauce: For products that fall outside the communiqué but serve the purpose of cream, the descriptive name “Creamsauce” may be used.

3. New Mandates for Restaurants and Cafés (Mass Caterers)

Perhaps the most radical change is occurring in mass catering establishments. It will no longer be enough to simply list allergens on menus:

• List of Ingredients: The exact contents of the food must be explicitly stated.

• Calorie (Energy) Information: It is now mandatory to share the energy values of the meals offered to consumers.

• Method: This information can be provided via menu cards, QR codes, or digital screens.

4. Enforcement and Transition Timeline

A phased timeline has been established to allow businesses to prepare for these changes:

• General Food Manufacturers: Must update their labels by 31 December 2026.

• National Restaurant Chains: By 1 July 2026 (The group requiring the fastest compliance).

• Small Businesses: Granted an extension until 31 December 2027 for energy (calorie) declarations.

In Conclusion