QUID: Quantitative Ingredient Declaration explained
Quantitative Ingredient Declaration (QUID) is a tongue twister, but an important aspect to compiling your ingredient list. You can find the requirements in regulation 26 of R. 146 (Regulations relating to the labelling and advertising of foodstuffs) as well as Guideline 3 to the regulation (8 pages long!). Here’s what you need to know:
If special emphasis is placed on the presence of one or more ingredients, the ingoing percentage of this ingredient must be declared on the label. The emphasis could be indicated by the presence of the ingredient in the product name or description, or in images included on the label.
For example, for a ‘chicken pie’, the percentage of chicken should be declared. However, if the picture of the chicken pie on the label clearly shows mushrooms inside the product, you may also be required to include the percentage of mushroom. The intention of this regulation is to give the consumer the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding whether the quantity of ‘chicken’ and/or ‘mushroom’ in the pie is to their liking before they purchase it. If it’s a vegetable pie, then the total percentage of vegetables could be indicated, or the percentage of each separate vegetable.
Where must QUID be declared?
QUID must be stated in brackets, in one of three ways:
- in close proximity to the words or pictures emphasising the ingredient;
- directly after the name or descriptor of the foodstuff; or
- after the applicable ingredient(s) in the list of ingredients.
In South Africa, we see QUID most often in the ingredient list.
When is QUID not required?
- For an ingredient that has been used in a small quantity mainly for the purpose of flavouring, and which consumers don’t expect a large amount of because of the nature of the product – e.g. garlic, herbs and spices, or ‘oxtail soup powder’ which contains only a minute amount of dried meat.
- For an ingredient which is not likely to influence the customer’s choice, because the variation in quantity is either not essential for characterising the food or does not distinguish it from similar foods – e.g. the corn in cornflakes.
- Where the emphasised ingredient is the main ingoing ingredient, appears in the name of the product, and comprises 95% or more of the mixture – e.g. the tomato in tomato paste.
Is QUID required for products for which compositional standards or regulations already exist under the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act orthe Agricultural Products Standards Act?
No, it is not always required; but it is nevertheless recommended, in the interests of transparency.
How should QUID be declared?
- It must be the percentage of the ingredient at the time of manufacture.
- Rounded to the nearest 1% – unless it is less than 5%, in which case it can be rounded to the nearest 0.5%.
- If it is an ingredient that comes in concentrated or dehydrated form but is reconstituted at the time of manufacture, then the percentage of the ‘whole’ ingredient must be declared – e.g. the reconstituted dried skimmed milk used in a dessert.
- The percentage is calculated by dividing the weight of the ingredient by the total weight of all the ingoing ingredients, taking into account the weight of any added water or any volatile ingredients lost in processing. Then multiply by 100.
When deciding on the description and picture to include on your label, remember that some of the ingredients may require QUID – which may mean that you are giving away some detail from your recipe! Contact our Regulatory and Nutrition Team if you need any assistance with calculations, or just want to check whether a certain ingredient requires QUID.
Other articles, resources and videos you may be interested in:
How to label food additives
Which ingredients don’t you need to label?
Minimum information – packaging requirements