Check the label
At home, pick up any one packaged food item from your kitchen. Check the label and note down the expiry date, and also two main ingredients.
Students should examine a packaged food item and record: (1) Expiry date/Best before date printed on the package, (2) Two main ingredients listed in the ingredients section. For example, for a biscuit packet: Expiry date - December 2024, Main ingredients - Wheat flour, Sugar.
Why is it important to check labels before buying or eating packaged food items?
It is important to check labels before buying or eating packaged food items because: (1) To ensure the food is not expired and safe to consume, (2) To know the ingredients and avoid allergens or harmful additives, (3) To understand nutritional value and make healthy choices, (4) To identify over-processed foods with high oil, salt, or sugar content, (5) To be aware of what we are consuming and make informed decisions about our health.
Explanation
(a) This activity helps students understand how to read food labels and identify important information like expiry dates and main ingredients. (b) The chapter discusses junk food and over-processed packaged food. Checking labels helps consumers identify unhealthy ingredients and make better food choices.