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How to Read Food Labels on Imported Products: A Practical Guide for Asian Consumers

Updated April 14, 2026 · 11 min read

Why Food Labels Matter for Imported Products

When buying imported food products in Asian markets, the product label is your primary — and often only — source of information about what you are eating. However, imported product labels can be confusing for several reasons:

• The original label may be in a foreign language (English, French, German, etc.)
• Sticker translations added by importers may be incomplete or inaccurate
• Different countries use different systems for ingredient numbering and certification
• Some information (like animal feed practices or processing methods) is not required on labels at all

This guide will help you navigate food labels on imported products so you can make more informed purchasing decisions.

Anatomy of a Food Label

Most food labels — regardless of country of origin — contain the following standard information:

1. Product Name

The commercial name of the product. On imported products in China, this must also appear in Chinese (中文品名).

2. Ingredient List

Listed in descending order of weight. The first ingredient is the largest component by weight. This is the most important section for identifying potential risks. Pay special attention to ingredients near the end of the list — this is where additives, preservatives, and minor ingredients appear.

3. Nutrition Facts

Usually displayed as a table showing energy (calories), protein, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium per serving or per 100g. In China, products must display the "NRV%" (Nutrient Reference Value percentage).

4. Allergen Information

Common allergens that must be declared (varies by country): milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat/gluten, soy. In the EU, insect ingredients also require allergen cross-reactivity warnings.

5. Country of Origin / Manufacturer

Where the product was made. This is critical for imported products because it helps you assess the regulatory environment the product was produced under.

6. Barcode (EAN/UPC)

The barcode encodes a product identifier that can be scanned with apps like PureBasket to look up detailed product information from databases like Open Food Facts.

7. Dates

"Best before" (最佳食用期限), "Use by" (保质期), or "Production date" (生产日期). Imported products in China must display both the original date and the Chinese-language date marking.

Understanding Country of Origin Codes

Barcode prefixes can help identify the country of origin, though they technically indicate where the barcode was registered, not necessarily where the product was made:

Decoding Food Additive Numbers (E-Numbers)

The E-number system is used internationally (especially in the EU) to identify food additives. Understanding the basic categories can help you quickly assess an ingredient list:

Reading Labels in China (中国)

China has specific regulations for imported food labeling under GB 7718-2011 (General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods):

Required Information on Chinese Labels

• 中文品名 — Chinese product name
• 配料表 — Ingredient list (in Chinese)
• 营养成分表 — Nutrition facts table (NRV% required)
• 净含量 — Net content
• 生产日期 / 保质期 — Production date / Shelf life
• 原产国(地区) — Country of origin
• 进口商/经销商 — Importer/distributor (with Chinese address)
• 中国境内代理商 — Chinese agent (if applicable)

All imported food products sold in China must have a Chinese-language label (中文标签) either printed directly on the packaging or applied as a sticker. Products without proper Chinese labeling are technically illegal to sell in retail channels.

China-Specific Certifications to Look For

• 绿色食品 (Green Food) — certified by the China Green Food Development Center; indicates reduced pesticide and chemical use
• 有机产品 (Organic Product) — certified organic under Chinese standard GB/T 19630
• 无公害农产品 (Pollution-Free Agriculture Product) — basic safety certification
• QS / SC标志 — Food production license mark (required for domestic products)

Reading Labels in Japan (日本)

Japan's food labeling system is governed by the Food Labeling Act (食品表示法), enforced since April 2015:

Key Label Elements

• 名称 (Name) — Product name
• 原材料名 (Ingredients) — Listed in descending order of weight; additives listed separately after a "/" separator
• 内容量 (Net Content) — Weight or volume
• 賞味期限 (Best Before) or 消費期限 (Use By)
• 原産国名 (Country of Origin) — Required for imported products
• 栄養成分表示 (Nutrition Facts) — Mandatory since 2020

Japan-Specific Certifications

• JAS マーク (Japanese Agricultural Standard) — quality standard for agricultural products
• 有機JAS (Organic JAS) — Japan's organic certification; green leaf-shaped mark
• 特定保健用食品 (特保/トクホ) — Foods for Specified Health Uses; government-approved health claims
• 非遺伝子組換え — "Non-Genetically Modified" voluntary declaration

Reading Labels in South Korea (한국)

South Korea's food labeling is regulated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (식품의약품안전처, MFDS):

Key Label Elements

• 제품명 (Product Name)
• 원재료명 및 함량 (Raw Material Names and Content) — Listed in descending order
• 영양성분 (Nutrition Information) — Energy, carbs, sugar, fat, trans fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, protein, sodium
• 유통기한 (Expiry Date) or 소비기한 (Use-by Date, adopted from 2023)
• 원산지 (Country of Origin) — Mandatory for imported products
• 수입원/수입자 (Importer) — Name and address required

Korea-Specific Certifications

• 유기농 인증 (Organic Certification) — Green leaf mark
• HACCP 인증 — Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points certification
• 건강기능식품 (Health Functional Food) — Approved health claims by MFDS
• 비유전자변형식품 (Non-GMO) — Voluntary non-GMO declaration

Red Flags to Watch For

When examining imported food labels, watch for these warning signs:

1. Missing or poorly applied Chinese/Japanese/Korean label: A hastily applied sticker that covers the original label or doesn't include all required information may indicate informal importation channels.
2. Mismatched dates: If the translated date doesn't match the original date on the packaging, exercise caution.
3. No importer information: Legitimate imported products always list the licensed importer or distributor with their local address and contact details.
4. Very long ingredient lists: A large number of E-numbers or unfamiliar chemical names may indicate a highly processed product. PureBasket can quickly check these against safety databases.
5. Vague origin statements: "Produced in the EU" without specifying the country, or "Distributed by" without "Made in" — try to determine the actual manufacturing country.
6. Suspiciously low prices: Imported premium brands at unusually low prices could indicate counterfeit products or products near expiry.

Tools to Help You

Reading food labels in a foreign language can be challenging. Here are tools that can help:

• PureBasket App: Scan any barcode to instantly look up product information from the Open Food Facts database. Our risk analysis engine checks additives, brand safety (Bovaer, GMO feed), and insect ingredients automatically. Download free on Google Play or the App Store.
• AI Food Scanner: PureBasket's AI-powered food scanner can photograph a product label and identify ingredients — even from labels in unfamiliar languages.
• Open Food Facts: The world's largest open food database with over 3 million products. Free to access at world.openfoodfacts.org.