Updated: 2005-11-29
BACKGROUND:
The Food and Drug Administration has consistently objected to "catch-all" or "shotgun" ingredient
statements in labeling. At the same time it has recognized that there may be
instances where this may be a practical technique for labeling assortments
or multiple items containing nonuniform ingredients. Therefore, the Food and
Drug Administration has not ruled out entirely the possibility of designing
labels that are suitable for more than one similar product or for use on packages
of assortments. However, it has maintained that any such labeling should not
deny the consumer information to which he is entitled, nor should such labeling
be misleading.
POLICY:
*21 CFR 101.4(a)(1) states that ingredients shall be listed by common or usual name in descending order of predominance by weight.* The declaration shall be presented on any appropriate information panel in adequate type size, without obscuring design, vignettes, or crowding. The entire ingredient statement shall appear on a single panel of the label.
Optional ingredients used in standardized food shall also be listed by common name, usually the name by which the ingredient is specified in the standard of identity, in order of decreasing predominance on a single panel of the label except that the standard may require certain words or statements to appear immediately preceding or following the name of the food.
The Food and Drug Administration will not object to "shotgun" ingredients labeling -- labels that are designed for more than one product -- provided other requirements of the Act and regulations are met and such labeling is not false or misleading. It is possible to devise this kind of ingredient labeling for bakery products and candy where:
It is not possible to devise shotgun labeling in instances where a manufacturer
wishes to be able to use one or more ingredients interchangeably although
it may be possible to devise adequate labeling if the several ingredients
are
ones that can be designated by a general common or usual name such as leavening
or baking powder or in cases where the ingredient is a standardized article.
Names that are not accepted common or usual names such as fruit purees, fruits,
edible oils, gums, emulsifiers, nut meats, etc., should not be used. Such
ingredients should be listed each by specific common or usual names.
*Material between asterisks is new or revised.*
Issued: 10/1/80
Revised: 8/96, 5/2005