Surface guide
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.
| 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.
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.