Understanding Nutritional Labels On Products And Choosing The Right Solution For Your Little Ones Food Habits

With no added sugar and packed with essential nutrients like vitamin A, C, Calcium, and Iron, Novalac Junior Vanilla helps bridge the nutritional gaps when your little one isn’t eating enough of the good stuff. But how do you know if a product truly meets your child’s needs? It all starts with understanding the nutritional label.

Decoding the nutritional label: What to look for

Firstly, it’s important to point out that labels are not just created and placed on a product to full space on the packaging. Foodstuff labelling in South Africa is regulated by the Department of Health. Labels must include specific information, such as the product name, ingredients, and nutritional information.

Reading a nutritional label can feel like cracking a secret code, but once you know what to look for, it becomes an informative tool in making the best choices for your family.

Here’s a quick guide on what you are looking for apart from the price:

1. The ingredients list and other mandatory label information

Ingredients:

The ingredients are listed in order of quantity, from most to least and all ingredients must be declared by their common name. Fewer ingredients generally mean a cleaner, simpler product. With Novalac Junior Vanilla, you won’t find any unnecessary ingredients – such as no added sugar.

Allergens:

The label also needs to identify any allergens in a prescribed format.  

Country of origin:

Where the product was produced.

Date Marking :

This is the date of manufacture and the best before, use by and sell by date. However, it is important to note that when the “best before” dates have been reached, it does not mean that the food is unsafe, but that it may be past its best. “Use by” is somewhat more instructive and often applies to refrigerated items where the risk of microbiological spoilage can be expected to increase after a given date. “Sell by” is a storage guideline to ensure that goods still have a reasonable shelf life after sale.

Nutritional Information:

If a label includes claims like “High in fibre,” it is required to feature a nutritional table. Whether the table is included voluntarily by the manufacturer or due to a claim on the label, the Regulations under the Foodstuffs Act (R146) specify a precise format for presenting the nutritional information. Among other stipulations, the nutritional details must be presented in a tabular format, energy content must be listed in “kilojoules” or “kJ,” and the amounts of each nutrient must be shown per 100 g/ml and per single serving.

A nutritional table that includes energy content, fat, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, and salt.

Manufacturer or importer: 

The name and address of the manufacturer or importer 

Net contents: 

The net contents in metric units 

2. Check for the all-important micronutrients

Micronutrients are the unsung heroes of nutrition. Novalac Junior Vanilla’s packaging is very detailed and formally lists the vitamins and minerals on the nutritional table but also reinforce the benefits of certain micronutrients by aligning an animal on the packaging design with a micronutrient. Here’s why they matter:

• Vitamin A (Bush Baby) – Supports vision and overall growth.
• Vitamin C (Cat) – Helps build a strong immune system.
• Calcium (Hippo) – Crucial for strong bones and teeth.
• Iron (Loch Ness) – Supports growth, brain development, and improves appetite.

Choosing a product high in these micronutrients, helps ensure your child is getting the right support for their development.

CHECK OUT: Novalac Junior Vanilla – the yummy and nutritional drink for children three years and older

3. No added sugar is the best choice

Many growing-up milks and nutritional drinks are packed with hidden sugars. Instead, look for products which are labelled “no added sugar”. This helps prevent sugar spikes and supports long-term health. Novalac Junior Vanilla ticks this box too as the good option.

South Africa also implemented a new regulation requiring the warning label “high in sugar” on food and drinks with more than 17.5 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres. So best to avoid those foods.

4. Follow instructions to the T

Once you’ve chosen the right product, it’s important to prepare and store your product correctly as per the instructions on the label.

Novalac Junior Vanilla should be prepared and mixed according to the recommended ratios – adding too much or too little can impact the nutritional balance and benefits as well as cause upset tummies. However you can use the constituted powder on its own in various recipes ( insert link to recipes here )

5. Storage

Be sure to store as per the label and in the case of growing up milk, it must be stored in its sealed container in a cool, dry place to maintain its freshness and nutritional value.

Make sure that you discard the contents of the opened tin if unused after the specified period as well as throwing away any prepared milk if not consumed after 1 hour. 

Be an educated and empowered parent

By combining your newly acquired product labelling knowledge with Novalac Junior Vanilla, you have a trusted, delicious, no added sugar option that’s easy to integrate into daily life. So next time you find yourself in the grocery aisle, scanning all those labels, you’ll know exactly what to look for – because every little choice adds up to big nutritious wins.