Packaged food sold in Slovakia normally carries the information you need to check its contents, safety dates and storage requirements. The main difficulty for many foreign residents is recognising the Slovak terminology. This guide explains the words that matter most and how to use them while shopping.
Key Slovak terms on food labels
Start with the product name and the ingredients panel. Under EU food-information rules, most prepacked foods must identify the food, ingredients, relevant allergens, net quantity, date marking and any necessary storage or usage instructions. The State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic provides a Slovak overview of these requirements.
| Slovak wording | English meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Názov potraviny | Name of the food | The type of product, not just its brand name |
| Zloženie | Ingredients | Ingredients appear in descending order by weight when used |
| Alergény | Allergens | Look for emphasised words in the ingredients list |
| Môže obsahovať | May contain | A precautionary warning about possible unintended presence |
| Čisté množstvo | Net quantity | The amount in grams, kilograms, millilitres or litres |
| Výživové údaje | Nutrition information | Usually shown per 100 g or 100 ml |
| Podmienky skladovania | Storage conditions | Temperature and instructions before or after opening |
| Krajina pôvodu | Country of origin | Where origin information is required or voluntarily supplied |
| Návod na použitie | Instructions for use | Preparation or cooking directions |
| Šarža | Batch or lot | A production code used for traceability |
You may also see hmotnosť for weight, objem for volume and výrobca for manufacturer. Imported products may have a separate Slovak sticker placed over or beside the original label.
Use-by and best-before dates are different
The two main date expressions do not mean the same thing. The distinction is especially important for chilled and highly perishable food.
Spotrebujte do: use by
Spotrebujte do means “use by.” This is a food-safety date used for foods considered highly perishable. The EU rules state that food is deemed unsafe after its use-by date. Do not rely on smell or appearance to override this date.
Follow any accompanying storage requirement, such as uchovávajte pri teplote od 2 °C do 6 °C, meaning “store at 2°C to 6°C.” The safety date assumes that the stated storage conditions have been respected.
Minimálna trvanlivosť do: best before
Minimálna trvanlivosť do, often introduced by minimálna trvanlivosť do konca, is the best-before date. It mainly concerns quality rather than an automatic safety deadline. Properly stored food may remain suitable after this date, although its taste, texture or other qualities may decline.
The European Commission’s date-marking guidance explains this distinction between “use by” and “best before.” When assessing food past a best-before date, consider the unopened packaging, storage history and product condition. Do not apply this flexibility to a use-by date.
How allergens appear in the ingredients
For prepacked food with an ingredients list, regulated allergens must be clearly distinguished from the surrounding ingredients, for example through bold type, capital letters, a different style or a contrasting background. Do not assume every manufacturer uses the same visual method.
The 14 allergen groups covered by EU rules are:
- cereals containing gluten: obilniny obsahujúce glutén (lepok), including wheat, rye, barley and oats;
- crustaceans: kôrovce;
- eggs: vajcia;
- fish: ryby;
- peanuts: arašidy;
- soybeans: sójové bôby or sója;
- milk: mlieko;
- nuts: orechy, with the particular nut normally identified;
- celery: zeler;
- mustard: horčica;
- sesame: sezamové semená or sezam;
- sulphur dioxide and sulphites: oxid siričitý a siričitany;
- lupin: vlčí bôb;
- molluscs: mäkkýše.
The complete list and its technical exceptions are published by the Slovak food authority. The European Commission also confirms that allergens must be emphasised within the ingredients list.
Môže obsahovať means “may contain.” It is different from an ingredient declaration: it warns about possible unintended presence, such as cross-contact during production. If an allergy is serious, do not treat the absence of an English translation as proof that the product is suitable. Check the Slovak wording carefully and contact the manufacturer when the information remains unclear.
Learning the names of your specific allergens is more useful than translating an entire package. LovinSK’s guide to Slovak self-study resources and language apps can help with broader everyday vocabulary.
Understanding the nutrition table
According to the European Commission’s nutrition-labelling guidance, the mandatory declaration for most prepacked foods gives energy plus fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt. Values must be stated per 100 g or 100 ml, making that column the most reliable basis for comparing products.
| Slovak term | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Energia / energetická hodnota | Energy, normally in kJ and kcal |
| Tuky | Fat |
| z toho nasýtené mastné kyseliny | of which saturates |
| Sacharidy | Carbohydrate |
| z toho cukry | of which sugars |
| Bielkoviny | Protein |
| Soľ | Salt |
| Vláknina | Fibre, when declared |
A manufacturer may also provide values per portion, but portion sizes can vary between brands. Compare the mandatory per-100-g or per-100-ml figures first. Front-of-pack nutrition graphics may be voluntary and do not replace the full table on the package.
Origin, storage and preparation information
A company’s Slovak address does not necessarily mean the ingredients or product originated in Slovakia. Under the EU rules on origin labelling, country or place of origin must be shown where its omission could mislead consumers, with additional origin rules applying to certain foods. Look specifically for krajina pôvodu, pôvod, “origin” or a named country.
Storage and preparation instructions can be just as important as the date:
- uchovávajte v chlade: keep refrigerated;
- uchovávajte v suchu: keep in a dry place;
- chráňte pred priamym slnečným žiarením: protect from direct sunlight;
- po otvorení uchovávajte v chladničke: refrigerate after opening;
- po otvorení spotrebujte do 3 dní: consume within three days after opening;
- pred použitím pretrepte: shake before use;
- určené na tepelnú úpravu: intended to be cooked or heat-treated.
When ordering groceries online, most mandatory information must generally be available before purchase, although the date and lot number need not appear before delivery. See the Slovak authority’s consumer guide to buying food online. LovinSK also has a broader guide to online shopping and delivery in Slovakia.
What to check before buying
- Identify the product. Read the actual food name, not only the branding or picture.
- Scan the ingredients. Check the first ingredients and any dietary restrictions.
- Find every relevant allergen. Look for emphasised words and any môže obsahovať warning.
- Read the date wording. Distinguish spotrebujte do from minimálna trvanlivosť do.
- Check storage conditions. Confirm that you can transport and store the food as instructed.
- Compare nutrition per 100 g or 100 ml. Do not compare unlike portion sizes.
- Check the packaging. Avoid products with broken seals, leaks, swelling or other visible damage.
- Confirm origin when it matters to you. Do not infer it from flags, branding or the distributor’s address.
For unfamiliar ingredients and specialist products, the terminology in LovinSK’s guide to Asian groceries in Slovakia may also be useful.
Frequently asked questions
Does “minimálna trvanlivosť do” mean the food becomes unsafe the next day?
Not automatically. It is a best-before date concerned primarily with quality. The food must still have been stored correctly and show no sign that it is unsuitable. A use-by date marked spotrebujte do must be treated differently.
Where should I look for allergens?
Check the full zloženie list. Regulated allergens used as ingredients should be visually emphasised. Also look for a separate môže obsahovať statement about possible unintended presence.
Is “z toho cukry” the amount of added sugar?
No. It means “of which sugars” within total carbohydrate and is not, by itself, a statement of added sugar. Check the ingredients list for sugar and other sweetening ingredients.
Should I compare nutrition values per portion or per 100 grams?
Use the per-100-g or per-100-ml values when comparing products. Portion information can be helpful for estimating what you will consume, but manufacturers may define portions differently.
