Food Nutrition Facts Labels: Everything You Need to Know

Food nutrition facts labels are essential tools for helping consumers make informed decisions about the food they consume. These labels provide critical information about the nutritional content of packaged foods and beverages, ensuring that consumers can evaluate what they're eating. Key elements typically listed on nutrition labels include:

Serving Size: The amount of food people typically eat in one sitting.

Calories: The amount of energy the food provides, measured in kilocalories (kcal).

Added Sugars: The total amount of added sugars in the food, listed in grams.

Trans Fat: The amount of trans fats present in the food.

Cholesterol: The amount of cholesterol in the food, measured in milligrams.

For more detailed information, you can check this article . The FDA provides comprehensive information on labeling requirements and nutritional guidelines.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that most packaged foods and beverages display nutrition facts labels. This includes items such as:

- Breads

- Cereals

- Canned and frozen foods

- Snacks

- Desserts

- Beverages

However, there are some exceptions:

Raw Produce and Fish: Nutrition labeling for fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish is voluntary.

Small Businesses: Small food businesses may be exempt from some nutrition labeling requirements, but they can still provide nutritional information upon request. Check this article for detailed requirements.

Nutrient Claims: Foods that make specific nutrient claims, such as "High in Fiber" or "Low Fat," are required to include nutrition facts labels, even if they are not packaged.

Nutrition facts labels must follow specific formats to ensure clarity and consistency. The FDA outlines several labeling options, depending on the product and its packaging size.

1. Standard Vertical Display: The most common format for larger packages, where the label is laid out vertically with serving size and calories at the top, followed by a breakdown of key nutrients.

2. Tabular Format: Suitable for products like canned foods where vertical space is limited. It presents nutritional information in a table format.

3. Dual Column Display: Used for larger products that may be consumed in one sitting or over multiple sittings. This format shows nutritional information both "per serving" and "per container" or "per package."

4. Linear Display for Small Packages: For very small packages (less than 12 sq. in. of labeling space), this format condenses the information into a linear display with a font size of at least 8-point.

You can also check 21 CFR 101.9(d),21 CFR 101.9(e),21 CFR 101.9(j) part of the legal document if you don’t find a format that is suitable for your product.

The FDA has strict rules about font size and spacing to ensure that nutrition labels are readable:

- The minimum font size must be at least 6-point.

- There are also requirements for the leading (the space between lines of text) to ensure clarity.

For visual examples and additional font size guidelines, check this PDF FDA issues..

In food nutrition label placement, PDP and IP are two key components::

- The Principal Display Panel (PDP), which is the main area of the packaging visible to consumers, must include the most important product information, including the food's name, brand, and net weight.

- The Information Panel (IP), located immediately to the right of the PDP or, if space is limited, on the left, rear, top, or bottom of the package, should contain the detailed nutrition facts, ingredients, and storage instructions.

Creating accurate and FDA-compliant food labels is essential for small businesses. Several platforms can help streamline the process of generating professional nutrition facts labels:

1. Using ReciPal 

ReciPal is an easy-to-use platform for generating nutrition labels. To get started:

- Create an account on ReciPal .

- Select the ingredients and quantities for your product.

- Click on "Recipe Label" to generate a preview.

- If everything looks good, download and print the label.

2. Using Canva

Canva offers simple label editing features, but its functions are limited, primarily requiring manual text editing. Therefore, this platform is better suited for experienced food business owners. If you need more advanced features, you may want to consider using professional nutrition label generation websites.

- Register or log in to your Canva account.

- Search for "food label" templates or use the direct link of Canva food label templates.

- Customize your label by adding the necessary nutritional information and branding.

- After editing, download and print your label.

3. Other Platforms

Visme ：A versatile visual design platform that can help you create detailed and customized labels for your products.

Food Label Maker : An easy-to-use platform with automated allergen identification and recipe management tools.

Operandio : A cloud-based labeling system that simplifies the management of nutrition facts labels across multiple locations.

LabelJoy  : A comprehensive label creation platform that also includes special pages for food labels.

Kafoodle : A label generator platform but you need pay for this after a free trial.

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Today, we have a comprehensive introduction on food nutrition labels, focusing on label formats, font size requirements, placement, and how to create nutrition labels. We have also provided relevant resource links. Whether you're just starting a small food business or managing a larger operation, using these resources to create your labels can help improve your efficiency. Hope this article will be helpful for you!

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