Herbal Tea Label Claims: What You Can and Can't Say on Pack

The words on your pack matter as much as the blend. A claim that is fine in one country can create legal trouble in another, so it pays to decide your wording before artwork goes to print.

LABEL CLAIMS

Why Claims Are Risky

Regulators generally treat a product differently when it is described as preventing, treating or curing a condition. A tea that makes disease claims can be treated more like a medicine, with far stricter rules. Product names such as Anti-Aging or Cough & Cold are especially likely to draw attention.

• - Disease-related claims can attract regulatory attention.
• - Products described as preventing, treating or curing conditions may face stricter rules.
• - A tea making disease claims may be treated more like a medicine.
• - Product names such as Anti-Aging or Cough & Cold can create additional risk.

SAFER WORDING

Safer Ways to Describe a Blend

Choose descriptive wording that focuses on the flavour, experience, occasion and ingredients of your herbal tea. Make sure every description is accurate and suitable for the market where you plan to sell.

• - Describe flavour and experience: floral, warming, refreshing, citrusy.
• - Describe the occasion: evening ritual, after-meal tea, morning cup.
• - Describe ingredients clearly and accurately.
• - Use general wellness language rather than medical outcomes.

CLAIMS TO AVOID

Words to Avoid

Avoid wording such as cures, treats, prevents, detoxifies or heals unless a regulator in your market has approved that specific claim and you can support it.

• - Cures
• - Treats
• - Prevents
• - Detoxifies
• - Heals
• - Avoid disease-related promises unless the specific claim is approved and properly supported in your target market.

MARKET REQUIREMENTS

Check by Market

Rules differ in the USA, UK, EU, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Asian countries. Rules on health claims, ingredient names, language and required label panels all vary. Your importer or a regulatory consultant should confirm what applies to you before printing.

• - USA: Check applicable local labelling and health-claim requirements.
• - UK: Verify requirements for ingredients, claims and label information.
• - EU: Confirm applicable health-claim and labelling rules.
• - Saudi Arabia: Check local import and product labelling requirements.
• - South Africa: Confirm the applicable food labelling rules.
• - Asian countries: Requirements vary by individual country.
• - Ask your importer or regulatory consultant to confirm the rules before printing.

LABEL INFORMATION

What Else Must Be on a Label

Common requirements include product name, ingredient list, net weight, batch or lot number, best-before date, allergen information and the business name and address. Some markets also require a local-language label.

• - Product name.
• - Ingredient list.
• - Net weight.
• - Batch or lot number.
• - Best-before date.
• - Allergen information.
• - Business name and address.
• - Local-language label, where required by the market.

ANANTAH FOODS SUPPORT

How We Help

We can supply ingredient lists and batch details, and we can adjust a blend name that may cause problems. Share your target market with us, and we will keep it in mind when we plan your blend and packaging.

• - Ingredient lists can be supplied.
• - Batch details can be provided.
• - Blend names can be adjusted if they may cause problems.
• - Share your target market during the formulation and packaging planning process.
• - Packaging decisions can be planned with your target market in mind.

DISCLAIMER

Important Information

This article is general information and not legal advice.

• - Labelling rules differ between countries.
• - Confirm requirements before printing packaging.
• - Consult a qualified regulatory professional for legal and compliance advice.