# QR codes on food packaging

> Food packaging QR codes carry ingredient, allergen and provenance information, which makes accessibility a legal matter rather than a nicety. Use 2–3 cm at error correction Q, and never make allergen data QR-only.

Source: https://useqr.app/qr-codes-on/food-packaging · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, MIT licensed, no signup.

---

| Typical scan distance | **20–30 cm** |
|---|---|
| Minimum code width | **2–3 cm** |
| Error correction | **Q** |

## Allergen information must not be QR-only

In most jurisdictions, allergen declarations must be on the pack itself. A QR code may add
detail — sourcing, full nutrition, recipes — but it cannot replace the printed declaration.
Anyone without a phone, without signal, or with low vision must still get the safety
information.

Make the linked page real HTML with proper heading structure so a screen reader works.

## Freezer, chiller and damp

- Condensation on a chilled pack scatters light. Matt finish and a generous quiet zone help;
  a glossy code on a cold pack is unreadable until it is wiped.
- Freezer adhesives are a different specification from ambient ones. A label that peels at
  −18 °C takes the code with it.
- For wet environments, in-mould labelling or direct print beats an applied label.

## Print

Flexographic printing on film spreads dots. Keep the payload short, keep modules at
0.5 mm or more, and always send vector artwork.

Retort and pasteurisation cycles fade some inks — check with a real sample that has been
through the process, not a proof.

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