Texas Food Safety Managers Practice Test

Food packaged in the operation and sold to customers for use at home must include ingredients in which order?

1. Alphabetical order

2. Descending order by weight

3. Most nutritious ingredients first

4. By preparation date

The correct answer is: Descending order by weight

The correct order for listing ingredients on food packaging is by descending order by weight. This means that the ingredient that weighs the most in the product must be listed first, followed by the next heaviest ingredient, and so on, until the lightest ingredient is listed last. This labeling practice is important for transparency, allowing consumers to understand what they are purchasing and consuming. It also helps individuals looking to avoid specific ingredients for dietary or health reasons, as they can quickly see the primary components of the product. The other options, such as listing ingredients in alphabetical order, by preparation date, or according to nutritional content, do not align with the established guidelines set forth by regulatory agencies for food labeling. These guidelines are designed to provide consistency and clarity in ingredient disclosure for consumers.