The latest version of this document issued in April 2008. Below is an earlier version.
July 9, 2003: For updated examples of nutrition labels
see Examples of Revised Nutrition Facts Panel Listing Trans Fat.
A Food Labeling Guide
Food Labeling CFR References
Questions | Answers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. Are "Nutrition Facts" labels required on all foods? |
The new nutrition label (an example is
illustrated in #4 below) is required
on most food packages labeled on or after May 8, 1994. The illustration
indicates suggested typeface and style to help assure readibility
and conspicuousness. Not all of these type specifications are required.
The mandatory type specifications are listed in § 101.9(d). Unlike the
illustrative examples in this booklet, (1) Any legible type style may be
used, not just Helvetica, (2) The heading "Nutrition Facts" must be the
largest type size in the nutrition label, i.e., it must be larger than
8-point, but does not need to be 13-point, and (3) There is no specific
thickness required for the three bars that separate the central sections
of the nutrition label. 21 CFR 101.9(a) and 101.9(a)(1) Below are listed categories providing exemptions or special provisions for nutrition labeling. A food package loses those exemptions, which are asterisked, if a nutrition claim is made or nutrition information is provided:
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2. Are nutrition designations permitted on food package labels? | FDA considers information that is required or permitted in the
"Nutrition Facts" panel on the front label or elsewhere on the package to
be a nutrient content claim. In such cases, the package label must
comply with the regulations for nutrient content claims. 21 CFR 101.13(c) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3. Where should the "Nutrition Facts" label be placed on food packages? |
The "Nutrition Facts" label may be placed together with the
ingredient list and the name and address (name and address of the
manufacturer, packer, or distributor) on the principal display panel
(PDP). These three label statements also may be placed on the
"information panel" (the label panel adjacent and to the right of
the principal display panel, or, if there is insufficient space on the
adjacent panel, on the next adjacent panel to the right).
On packages with insufficient area on the principal display panel and
information panel, the "Nutrition Facts" label may be placed
on any alternate panel that can be seen by the consumer. 21 CFR 101.2(b), 101.2(d)(1), and 101.9(j)(17) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4. What are the minimum type sizes and
other format requirements for the "Nutrition Facts" panel?
The illustration below (Nutrition Label Format) indicates the suggested typesetting specifications for a "Nutrition Facts" label to be considered conspicuous and adequately formatted. Format requirements are specified in 21 CFR 101.9(d)
A. Overall B. Typeface and Size
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5. What can be done if the
regular "Nutrition Facts" label (i.e., the vertical format)
does not fit the package?
On packages with more than 40 square inches available to bear labeling, the "side-by-side" format may be used if the regular "Nutrition Facts" label does not fit. In this format, the bottom part of the "Nutrition Facts" label (following the vitamin and mineral information) is placed immediately to the right and separated with a line. If additional vitamins and minerals are listed after iron and the space under iron is inadequate, they may also be listed to the right with a line that sets them apart from the footnotes.
21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6. Is it necessary to include a calorie conversion footnote which states that fat, carbohydrate, and protein furnish 9, 4, and 4 calories per gram, respectively? | No, the use of that footnote is optional. 21 CFR 101.9(d)(10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7. How should variety packs (e.g., breakfast
cereals) display the nutrition information?
When a package contains two or more packaged foods that are intended to be eaten individually, such as a variety pack of breakfast cereals or when packages may be used interchangably for the same type of food, such as round ice cream containers, the manufacturer may choose to include separate "Nutrition Facts" panels for each food product, or may use an aggregate "Nutrition Facts" panel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8. What are the special labeling provisions for small and intermediate-sized packages? | Food packages with a surface area of 40 sq. in. or less available for
labeling may place the "Nutrition Facts" label on any label panel (not
limited to the information panel), may omit the footnotes to the
"Nutrition Facts" label if another asterisk is placed at the bottom of
the label with the statement "Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000
calorie diet," and, may also use the tabular display label format.
21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(A), (C), and (D) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9. Is there another exemption if the tabular display label does not fit on small and intermediate-sized packages? | A linear (string) format may be used on food packages with 40 sq. in.
or less total surface area available for labeling if the package shape
or size cannot accomodate the nutrition information placed in columns on
any label panel.
21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10. Are abbreviations permitted on "Nutrition Facts" labels for small and intermediate-sized packages? | Food packages with a surface area of 40 sq. in. or less available for
labeling may use the following abbreviations in the "Nutrition Facts"
label:
21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(B) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11. What is the "telephone number exemption" for small food packages? |
Small packages (less than 12 sq. in. total surface area available to
bear labeling) may be printed with a telephone number or an address to
obtain nutrition information. This exemption (using a telephone number
or address in place of the "Nutrition Facts" label) is permitted only
if there are no nutrient content claims or other nutrition information
on the product label. 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(i) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12. What is the minimum type size for "Nutrition Facts" label on small packages? | Small packages (less than 12 sq. in. total surface area available to
bear labeling) may use type sizes no smaller than 6 point or all
uppercase type of not less than 1/16 inch for all required nutrition
information. 21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(i)(B) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13. What are the exemptions for single-serving containers? |
Single serving containers may omit the "servings per container"
declaration. In addition, most single serving containers may omit the
metric equivalent portion of the serving size declaration. However, if
it is voluntarily included, it must be consistent with the net quantity
of contents value. The serving size for single-serving containers must
be a description of the container such as: "Serving Size: 1 package" for
food in bags, "Serving Size: 1 container" for foods in plastic containers, or
"Serving Size: 1 can" as appropriate. Only those few foods that are
required to declare drained weights must include the metric equivalent
as part of the serving size declaration, e.g., "Serving size: 1 can
drained (__g)." 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(iv), 101.9(b)(7) & 101.9(d)(3)(ii) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14. If a manufacturer chooses to do so, how may a food be labeled if the labeled food is commonly combined with another food before eating? |
The "Nutrition Facts" panel must state the nutrients in the food "as
packaged" (i.e., before consumer preparation). However, manufacturers
are encouraged to add a second column of nutrition information showing
calories, calories from fat and the % Daily Value for the combination of
foods eaten. Quantitative amounts (i.e., g/mg) need only be given for
the packaged food. However, as shown in this example, a footnote can be
added to indicate the amount of nutrients in the added food. Alternatively, the
quantitative amounts of the prepared food may be included immediately
adjacent to those for the packaged food (e.g., "Sodium 200 mg, 265 mg").
21 CFR 101.9(e) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15. If a manufacturer chooses to do so, what is an example of the "Nutrition Facts" label for a food requiring further preparation by the consumer? |
When the nutrient values in the column for the product prepared
according to package directions would be identical to the column for the
product as packaged (e.g., the only ingredients added during preparation
are ingredients such as water), manufacturers may omit the second column
and include the amount made as part of the serving size declaration. For
example, a dry beverage mix could declare: "Serving Size: 1 tsp dry
powder (4 g)(makes 1 cup prepared)."
21 CFR 101.9(b)(7)(v), 101.9(e), 101.9(e)(5) |
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