Labeling and Advertising of Food and Beverages

When selling loose candy, the regulations regarding the labeling of
allergens and additives apply.

• Mandatory labeling of allergens
  e.g., “contains milk,” “contains peanuts”
• Mandatory labeling of additives
  e.g., “contains artificial colors”

ATTENTION:

For the color additives Yellow Orange S (E110), Quinoline Yellow (E104), Azorubine (E122), Allura Red AC (E129), Tartrazine (E102), and Cochineal Red (E124), the following designations and the following warning must be displayed on a label near the food product in question:

• Class designation (food coloring)
• Trade name (name of the food coloring) or E number and
• the following wording: “May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

Foods with protected designations of origin are produced using traditional methods and are closely linked to those production methods or to a specific region. The EU introduced three quality labels to protect and promote traditional and regional food products.

A food product may therefore only be marketed under the protected designation if it complies with the specific product specifications.

	Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)	Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)	Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG)
EU logo
Examples	“Allgäuer Emmentaler” “Feta” “Parma Ham”	“Obazda” “Bavarian beer”	“Serrano ham” “Hay-fed milk”

If “Feta” is listed on the menu, it must actually be used.
Using products similar to feta, such as shepherd’s cheese, is not permitted. An unauthorized claim is considered misleading to the consumer.

Only dishes prepared using rotating meat skewers made from lamb/sheep meat and/or veal/beef may be called “Döner” or “Döner Kebab.” A maximum of 60% ground meat is permitted.

“Chicken” or “turkey döner kebab” must be made exclusively from the specified type of poultry.

e.g., “Döner Kebab,” “Turkey Döner Kebab,” “Chicken Döner Kebab”

A product deviates from the general public perception if, for example, the following is used:

• Meat from other animal species
• Plant-based proteins (e.g., soy)
• Starch, breadcrumbs
• Drinking water (liquid seasoning)
• Increased proportion of ground meat
• Ground meat, some of which is finely minced.

Such unusual ingredients must be clearly identified.
e.g., “Döner Kebab with 70% ground meat,” “Döner Kebab with breadcrumbs”

The designation “Döner” or “Döner ‘Kebab’” is no longer permitted if the products are of a distinct nature .

This includes products that

• more than 60% ground meat and another
  deviation,
• mechanically separated meat or
• pork.

e.g., “Beef Minced Meat Preparation on a Skewer,”

“Rotisserie made from finely ground beef”

A product may be marketed as a “vegan/vegetarian döner” if it has a sensory similarity to the original product in terms of appearance and mouthfeel, and the substitute ingredient is clearly labeled in the main field of view.

e.g., “Vegan Döner Kebab (with soy)”

If the meat is not replaced with soy, wheat, or another alternative, the term “döner kebab” must not be used. A possible name would be, for example, “Vegetarian filling in a döner bun with cheese.”

If the term “ham” is used in food descriptions, these products must actually contain ham. The ham must come from the hind leg. Substituting it with less expensive products is not permitted.

Processed meat products must be labeled accordingly on menus or on signs next to the merchandise to protect consumers from being misled.

e.g., “Ham pizza, made from pieces of meat”

When ham imitations are used, they constitute a distinct category of food products. In such cases, the term “ham” must not appear in the food’s name.

e.g., “House-specialty pizza: pizza topping made from 55% cured shoulder meat, predominantly finely minced, reassembled, with drinking water; …”

1. Wine

Allergen Labeling

Since nearly all wines contain sulfites, allergen labeling must be included on drink menus when serving wine by the glass.

e.g., “Silvaner, contains sulfites”

Special Regulations

The following information is required on drink menus:

• Quality designation, e.g., table wine, quality wine, etc.
• Type of wine, e.g., white wine, Rotling
• Origin (growing region, wine-growing region, or country of origin)
• Unit of sale or service (e.g., 0.25 L; 0.75 L; 1 L) and price

2. Beer

Barley and wheat, among other ingredients, are used as raw materials in the brewing of beer. These are gluten-containing grains that are subject to allergen labeling requirements. Accordingly, allergen labeling must be provided when serving beer.

e.g., “contains barley”

3. Coffee

If cappuccino or other coffee beverages containing milk are sold, the dairy products used must be labeled as allergens.

e.g., “contains milk”

4. Sparkling wine

The term “sparkling wine” covers all wines that contain carbon dioxide, such as Sekt and Prosecco. Sekt is a carbonated beverage made from wine (quality sparkling wine). Prosecco is a wine-based beverage with a protected designation of origin from Italy (Protected Designation of Origin). Therefore, Sekt may not be advertised as Prosecco on drink menus.