Food packaging does not just preserve and protect food during transit, but also carries information about it, and displays or promotes it. Packaging can be made from a wide range of materials, some of which are more environmentally-friendly than others. There are three layers of food product packaging - primary, secondary and transit packaging.

Food labelling is needed to protect consumer health and consumer choice, and EU [EU: the European Union - a community of European states with its own parliament and laws. The UK is a member. ] law lays down what information must be given on food product labels.