Abstract :
The food labels provide accurate information which can be easily un-derstood by the consumers. The aim of this study was to investigate the market status of branded and unbranded, labeled and unlabeled wheat flour marketed along with identifying labeling claims of varied brands of wheat flour sold by the retailer, supermarkets, fair-price shops, etc. in the state of Goa. It was observed that wheat flour was sold in the market in packed labeled branded form as well as unbranded and loose form. It was also observed that supermarkets buy unbranded wheat flour in bulk quantity or pack size and re-pack them in packages of small size to be resold without a label. Consumers purchased both branded as well as unbranded wheat flour available in the market. Comparison of different label claims of branded and labeled wheat flour showed that although manufacturers followed the mandatory labeling requirements, there was no systematic order or standard for-mat of labeling information on the principle panel. Only branded wheat flour labels followed mandatory labeling requirements and most of the supermarkets or retailers had poor knowledge about the mandatory labeling requirements.
Keyword :
Branded, Labels, Unbranded, Wheat flour