When faced with a food product, the label is often the only source of information we have. Yet, between mandatory information, marketing phrasing, and technical terms, it's not always easy to find your way around.
Reading a label doesn't require being an expert. You just need to know where to look and what to understand.
The list of ingredients: the first thing to check
The rule is simple: the ingredients are listed in descending order of quantity.
The first ingredient is therefore the one that is most present in the product.
A quality product usually displays a short, legible, and understandable list.
The longer the list, the more useful it is to question the nature of the product.
If a key ingredient appears at the end of the list, it is often present in very small quantities.
Percentages: a valuable indicator
When an ingredient is highlighted on the packaging (e.g., “with herbs”, “with butter”, “with mustard”), its percentage must be indicated.
These figures allow us to verify whether the promise actually matches the content.
A product may mention an ingredient without it playing a major role in the taste.
The origin: what is said… and what is not
A product can have multiple origins:
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origin of raw materials,
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A place of transformation.
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conditioning site.
A product “made in France” does not always mean that the ingredients are French.
Reading the information carefully helps to avoid confusion and to better understand the reality of the product.
Additives and vague terms
Some ingredients have technical or generic names: flavorings, acidity regulators, thickeners, stabilizers.
Not all of them are problematic, but their accumulation is often a sign of a highly processed product.
Conversely, a simple recipe is generally based on raw and identifiable ingredients.
Nutritional values: what are they really for?
The nutrition table indicates the intake of energy, fat, sugars and salt.
It allows you to compare similar products, but says nothing about the quality of the ingredients or their origin.
A product can show “good figures” while being highly processed.
Nutritional values should therefore be read in addition to, never on their own.
Labels and designations: guidelines, not absolute guarantees
PDO, PGI, organic labels or artisanal designations provide useful information, but do not replace reading the label.
A label is a framework. The overall consistency of the product remains essential: origin, recipe, manufacturing method and transparency.
Reading a label means regaining control
Understanding a label allows you to make more informed choices, without falling into excess or permanent mistrust.
It's not about finding the perfect product, but about knowing what we are actually consuming.
Transparency at Terroir
At Terroir, we select products whose labels are legible, honest and consistent with their production.
We believe that a good product has nothing to hide.
Clarity is an integral part of taste and confidence.
Discover a selection of products chosen for their transparency and quality in the Terroir shop.