Nutrition Information Panel: Best Before 2011

For those of us trying to make conscious food choices, the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) on packaging is meant to guide us. It helps us decide what to buy, what to feed our families, and what foods align with our values and health goals.

We trust that the numbers on those panels reflect the actual food inside the pack.

But what if they don’t?

What if the information we’re relying on is outdated, estimated, or simply wrong?

Where the Numbers Come From

In Australia and New Zealand, food manufacturers are required to provide a NIP on all packaged food. These panels are often generated using a database maintained by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)—a government body responsible for food safety and labelling standards.

The FSANZ database contains nutritional data for over 1,500 food items, covering up to 254 nutrients per item. When a product is developed, manufacturers typically submit an ingredient list and processing details, and a NIP is generated using this data.

But here’s the problem: that database hasn’t been updated since 2011.

Why That’s a Problem

The FSANZ system assumes that the nutrient content of raw ingredients is stable over time.

It’s not.

Just like wine has vintage variation, the nutritional quality of ingredients can change based on soil health, climate, season, geography, farming practices, and even storage conditions. Ingredients grown in one region or season may contain vastly different levels of key nutrients compared to others.

When we rely on static data to estimate the dynamic reality of food, we end up with labels that may be more fiction than fact.

What We Found: The Brazil Nut Case

This isn’t hypothetical. We discovered this firsthand when we tested Brazil nuts for selenium content (you can read the full story here).

Packaged products claimed high levels of selenium—some even saying “just two Brazil nuts a day meets your daily requirement.” But when we tested multiple samples through NATA-accredited labs, the real selenium content was dramatically lower than what was listed.

This isn’t just a technical error—it has real health consequences for people relying on those products to meet their nutrient needs.

What We Do at Eat for You

At Eat for You, we believe people deserve better.

We work with food brands to test the actual nutrient, pesticide, and contaminant levels in their products—not based on averages, assumptions, or outdated databases, but on real, batch-specific lab results.

We help brands understand what’s really in their food. We help them be transparent with their customers. And we help them build products and reputations rooted in integrity.

Why This Matters

Accurate nutrient information isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a public health issue. It’s a business credibility issue. It’s a trust issue.

Batch testing doesn’t just give you numbers—it gives you insight. It tells you where your best ingredients are coming from. It shows you how your sourcing impacts your nutritional profile. It allows for continuous improvement, not blind repetition.

And most importantly, it lets your customers trust you.

Let’s Change the Standard

The current system might be common—but that doesn’t make it right.

We believe the future of food lies in transparency, not assumptions. And that real, measurable data should be the foundation of every health claim we make.

If you’re a food brand ready to make that shift, we’re here to support you.

Let’s make food as it should be—starting with the truth.