Industrial sector
Labels for the food industry
We supply resistant self-adhesive labels for the food industry: cold rooms and freezing down to −30 °C, high-pressure washing, humidity and condensation, with materials suitable for indirect food contact under EU Regulation 10/2011. A label that lifts, smears or contaminates is a traceability problem, a hygiene problem, and potentially a regulatory one. Since 1994 we have supplied food businesses in Spain and Europe; tell us about your process and we will guide you in choosing the material.
Temperature
−30 °C to +120 °C
Standard
UE 10/2011
Conditions
Cold · Humidity · Washing
Traceability
Batch · Expiry
Common materials in the food industry
Do you work in the cold chain or with industrial washing?
Tell us the surface temperature at the point of application, the washing process and the type of packaging. We'll guide you from the first contact.
Consult for the food industry →Environment and technical requirements
In the food industry, the label faces conditions ranging from extreme cold to humid heat, via surfaces with condensation and aggressive cleaning cycles. The material and adhesive (including cold-chain stable adhesives, which don't lose strength in the cold) must be chosen for each specific point in the production and distribution chain.
Common operating conditions
Technical requirements and regulations
Where our labels are used
From the batch label coming off the thermal printer on the packaging line to the price label accompanying the product in the supermarket chiller, the material must keep its performance throughout the whole chain.
Specific applications
Labels applied to packaging in cold rooms or freezing lines face surfaces with condensation and sub-zero temperatures at the point of application. Conventional adhesives don't bond to cold surfaces: adhesives formulated for low temperature are needed.
Polypropylene · Cold-chain stable adhesive · −30 °C
Facilities with high-intensity cleaning protocols use high-pressure hot water with alkaline detergents. Permanent identification labels for trays, boxes and equipment must stay adhered and intact after the wash cycle. Ask us about validation for your specific process.
Polyester · Hot-water resistant adhesive
European food regulations require full batch and expiry-date traceability throughout the chain. Labels printed in-line with thermal transfer or direct thermal printers must produce codes that stay legible in the chiller, during transport and at the point of sale.
Direct thermal · Polypropylene · Barcode · Batch
Packaging that goes through pasteurisation, cooking or sterilisation subjects the label to cycles of high temperature and steam. The adhesive must maintain its bond, and the face material must not warp or lose opacity under these conditions.
Polyester · Steam-resistant adhesive · +120 °C
Recommended materials
There's no single material for the whole food industry. The choice depends on the point in the chain: a label for a cold room doesn't need the same properties as one for packaging headed to pasteurisation. We guide the selection from the very first contact.
Cold chain and humidity
The most widely used material in the food industry for cold applications and humid environments. Polypropylene is flexible, resistant to moisture, and accepts cold-chain stable adhesives that work even on cold surfaces or surfaces with condensation.
In-line printing
For fast in-line printing of batches, expiry dates and barcodes. Direct thermal needs no ribbon: the printer applies heat directly to the label's heat-sensitive surface. Ideal for high volumes and frequent reference changes in cold conditions.
Demanding applications
For the most demanding applications in the food industry: industrial washing with hot water and detergents, steam sterilisation and environments in contact with oils or fats. Polyester keeps its material integrity and code legibility when printed with resin ribbon.
Sector needs and processes
In the food industry, labelling doesn't just identify: it must also withstand cold, humidity, washing and regulatory requirements. These are the sector's most common needs.
Application
Solutions for packaging, boxes and pallets going through freezer chambers, cold rooms or wet processes. The adhesive must hold its bond on wet, frosted or grease-treated surfaces.
Application
Identification with variable data for batch control, expiry date and internal or GS1 traceability. The code must stay legible through every stage of the process: production, storage and distribution.
Application
Solutions to guarantee packaging integrity and evidence unauthorised opening. Relevant for high-value products, food supplements, dietetics and any packaging where chain of custody matters.
Regulations and sector requirements
Labelling in the food industry is shaped by food-contact regulations, mandatory traceability and industrial hygiene requirements. Material choice isn't just technical — it has direct regulatory implications.
Governs plastic materials intended to come into contact with food, including labels applied to the outside of packaging where migration of substances can occur. The printing inks and adhesives used must be compliant and present no risk of transfer to the food.
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 establishes mandatory traceability throughout the food chain. The label with barcode, batch and expiry date is the physical record of that traceability: it must stay legible from the factory to the end consumer, regardless of storage or transport conditions.
HACCP plans may require labelling materials present in food areas to be documented and assessed. If your facility requires it, we can advise you on what technical information is available for each material.
Frequently asked questions
For cold rooms and freezers, materials with adhesives designed to apply and stay in place at low temperature are used: polypropylene with cold-chain stable adhesive for cold surfaces, or polyester for more demanding applications. The key is that the adhesive must not lose bond strength at −20 °C or −30 °C, even when the pack surface has surface condensation.
Yes, with the right material. Food facilities with high-pressure washing cycles using alkaline detergents require polyester or polypropylene labels with high-performance adhesives that keep the label adhered and the code legible. Talk to us about validating your specific process. A standard adhesive lifts, or the print smears, under these conditions.
EU Regulation 10/2011 governs plastic materials in contact with food, including labels applied to the outside of packaging where migration can occur. In practice, this mainly affects inks and adhesives: they must be compliant for food environments and must not contaminate the product.
Yes. Wet or frosted surfaces are one of the most common challenges in the food industry. There are specific adhesives formulated to bond even to surfaces with surface condensation. Tell us the surface temperature at the point of application, the type of packaging, and whether there are subsequent freeze/thaw cycles, so we can guide you to the right choice.
It depends on the printing process. If printed in-line at the factory with a thermal transfer or direct thermal printer, the most common materials are direct thermal for fast batch labelling in cold conditions, or polypropylene for applications demanding more durability. The barcode or QR code must be readable throughout the chain: from the factory to the checkout at the point of sale.
Yes. In the food industry, where conditions of use can include extreme humidity, washing or low temperatures, validating the material with a sample before production is necessary. Tell us the type of packaging, the application surface, the temperature and the washing process, and we'll prepare a sample tailored to your application.
Service life depends on the adhesive and the substrate. With polypropylene and permanent acrylic adhesive, a label keeps its adhesion and legibility for months in a chamber at −30 °C. For prolonged freezing or in-and-out cycles, we confirm this with a real-world test before production.
Technical guide
What the regulations require, what fails due to condensation, and how to choose the material and adhesive for chilled and frozen products.
Read the requirementsMain material
The reference material for the food industry: humidity, cold chain and surfaces with condensation. Cold-chain stable adhesives from −30 °C.
See polypropyleneKey application
Selecting materials and adhesives for cold rooms, condensation-prone surfaces and freeze/thaw cycles.
See applicationTraceability
Batches, expiry dates and barcodes for traceability on the production line and throughout the food distribution chain.
See traceabilityContact
Tell us the type of packaging, the application temperature, the washing process and any regulatory requirement. We'll guide you in choosing the material from the first contact.