Let’s face it — not every food brand on the market specializes in clean label products with organic, natural ingredients.

Though consumer demand for wholesome, nutritious meals and snacks is soaring, there is still a desire for quick, easy, convenient “guilty pleasure” junk food. However, brands specializing in treats like candy, cookies, potato chips, and other greasy or sugary fare face the challenge of targeting new consumer sects and convincing health-conscious customers to give their products a try.

This is where transparency is absolutely vital: If you’re open and honest about the ingredients in your products, how it was made, and where it comes from, consumers become equipped with the tools and knowledge to make an informed decision and select your product from similar items on the market. Printed stand pouches with customized labels have become an easy, effective way for food brands to communicate important product information that keeps consumers safe and earns their trust.

Interestingly, a new proposal has come out of the United Kingdom to help improve the health of the public and help consumers make more informed food choices. Visual labeling, as it has been dubbed, may very well be enacted for brands selling both clean label products and not-so-healthy food and snacks as a way to cut down on confusion and build transparency between manufacturer and consumer. The proposal states that food packaging, like printed stand pouches, must be labeled with images of teaspoons that represent the amount of sugar or salt that has been added to the food product. These clear and simple visual cues will help people quickly and easily gauge whether the food is healthy or unhealthy and whether or not it fits into their diets. 

This move is part of UK government officials’ strategy for using Brexit as a means of allowing new types of visual labeling. Leaving the European Union grants them more flexibility to determine what should be displayed on food packaging, as current rules regarding trade actually prevent the enacting of new labeling techniques. The UK isn’t the only place where packaging and labeling regulations are shifting and evolving, which is why it’s so important to use custom stand up bags and other forms of packaging to clearly and efficiently communicate to customers that your brand is compliant and honest about its products and practices.

Some brands may worry about offering too much transparency to the public, especially in regards to unhealthy foods. However, including simple graphics on your printed stand pouches and other food packaging won’t hurt the industry if you’re committed to creating open communication and building trust with customers. If your brand fills a need in the market and develops excellent products people crave, you’ll build a loyal customer base and influential brand advocates.

Distinct customized packaging helps communicate a brand’s commitment to best serving their customers and being straightforward about what exactly they are consuming when trying your product.

The worst thing a brand can do is be vague, confusing, and nonresponsive to consumer questions and concerns. Custom packaging and labels allow companies to quickly educate and inform shoppers using visual cues that anyone can understand. After all, withholding information from the public and misleading retailers can result in detrimental recalls and products being pulled from shelves. Packaging is truly the billboard that both catches a shopper’s attention and educates them about your brand within those crucial few decision-making seconds.

No matter what new rules your government agencies enact regarding the labels or structure of your packaging, choosing custom printed solutions allows you to quickly pivot when need be. Maintaining a close relationship with your packaging supplier and project managers ensures your packaging remains compliant, protective, and enticing so consumers quickly gravitate toward it and become delighted by your brand’s commitment to honesty and integrity.