Food Labels Should Include All of the Following Except?
Possible contaminants. Food labels are required to show product identity, nutrition information, storage instructions, and a use-by/best-by date — but they are not required to list possible contaminants, which is why that is the "except" answer.
The answer
In the common food-safety version of this question, labels should include all of the following except a list of possible contaminants.
The typical options are:
- when to consume it by (use-by / best-by date)
- how to store it (storage instructions)
- product and nutrition information
- possible contaminants ← the EXCEPT answer
Manufacturers are not required — and are not expected — to print a list of possible contaminants on a package. Contaminants (bacteria, allergen cross-contact beyond declared allergens, foreign material) are hazards to be prevented through safe handling, not disclosed as a routine label element. The other three items are standard, expected, and in most jurisdictions legally required parts of a food label.
Why the other options belong on a label
When to consume it by. A date marking — "use by," "best before," or "sell by" — tells the consumer the window of safe or peak-quality consumption. "Use by" dates in particular are a food-safety marker on perishable items.
How to store it. Storage instructions ("keep refrigerated," "store in a cool, dry place," "refrigerate after opening") are essential because they preserve the assumptions behind the shelf-life date. Storing a chilled product at room temperature invalidates the use-by date and invites time-temperature abuse.
Product and nutrition information. This covers the identity of the food, the manufacturer, the ingredient list, declared allergens, net quantity, and the Nutrition Facts panel. In the US these are required by the FDA under the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act; equivalent rules exist in the EU and UK.
The bigger picture
It helps to separate what a label must carry from what it need not:
Required / expected on a food label
- Statement of identity (what the product is)
- Net quantity of contents
- Ingredient list in descending order by weight
- Allergen declaration
- Name and address of manufacturer/distributor
- Nutrition Facts panel
- Storage instructions where relevant
- Date marking (use-by / best-before)
Not required on a food label
- A list of possible contaminants
- The full manufacturing process
- Every trace substance that could theoretically be present
Because this item appears in several quiz versions with slightly different options, the reliable strategy is to identify the choice that describes a hazard the producer is trying to keep out of the food, rather than information that helps the consumer use the food safely. A contaminant list is the former, so it is almost always the "except." If your version instead offers something like "the price" or "a recipe," apply the same test — anything that is not identity, nutrition, storage, allergens, or dating is the outlier.
| Use-by / best-by date | Yes | Tells consumer the safe or peak consumption window |
| Storage instructions | Yes | Preserves the shelf-life assumptions and prevents spoilage |
| Product & nutrition information | Yes | Identity, ingredients, allergens, and Nutrition Facts are legally required |
| List of possible contaminants | No | Contaminants are prevented through safe handling, not disclosed on the label |
Frequently asked
What information is required on a food label?
A food label must show the product's identity, net quantity, ingredient list in descending order by weight, allergen declaration, the manufacturer or distributor's name and address, and a Nutrition Facts panel. Perishable items also carry storage instructions and a date marking.
What must a nutrition facts label include?
The Nutrition Facts panel lists serving size, calories, and amounts of key nutrients — total fat, saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, fiber, sugars (including added sugars), and protein — plus certain vitamins and minerals, each with a percent Daily Value.
Are contaminants listed on food labels?
No. Food labels are not required to list possible contaminants such as bacteria or foreign material. Contamination is controlled through safe food-handling and manufacturing practices, not disclosed on the package, which is why "possible contaminants" is the "except" answer in this question.
What does 'best by' date mean on a label?
A "best by" (or "best before") date indicates when a food is at peak quality — flavor and texture — rather than a hard safety cutoff. A "use by" date, by contrast, is a safety marker on perishable foods and should be respected more strictly.
What does the FDA require on food labels?
In the United States the FDA requires a statement of identity, net quantity, ingredient list, allergen labeling, manufacturer information, and a Nutrition Facts panel on most packaged foods. These rules come largely from the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act and the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act.