What Information is Needed On Food Labels and Drink Labels? Leave a comment

If you’ve got a local business that packages and distributes food or drinks, then you’re sure to want the correct labeling for your products. Our team is here to provide you with a helpful guide on the different food and drink nutrition label requirements in the USA so you can protect your customers and keep business moving with ease. Learn more with the professionals at Chicago Color label and turn to us for all of your labeling needs!

Food and Drink Nutrition Label Requirements USA: Package Elements

Before we get into the various food and drink label requirements, it’s important to understand the two major components of your product packaging. The principal display panel is most likely going to the front of your product package and the first thing buyers will see when they shop in stores. On the right side of your front display you’ll always want to have your information panel where you’ll breakdown details about your product such as serving size, ingredients, and more. 

Food and Drink Nutrition Label Requirements USA: Package Content

So, what information is needed on food labels and drink labels for USA products? Here’s a quick breakdown below:

• • Statement of Identity: Legal or common name of the food or drink, or the description of the product. This must be placed on the principal display panel to be primarily seen with a font size that’s at least half of the largest font used on the label. 
  • Net Quality of Contents: Amount of product in the package by either weight, fluid ounces, or the number of items. This should be placed in the bottom 30 percent of the principal display panel with a relative type height.  
  • Nutrition Facts Label: FDA information on how to use the product based package size and contents of package. It is typically placed on the information panel near the ingredient statement and includes the common household measurement, serving size, and servings per container along with ​​total calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, protein, vitamin D, calcium, iron, potassium. The nutrition facts label size requirements are that it should be at least 1/16 of an inch. 

• Ingredient Statement: Lists the ingredients of the food or drink in descending order of weight or fluid ounces. This should be easy to read and placed near the nutrition facts label on the information panel. 
• Allergen Declaration: Mandated from the The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 that major food allergens, such as milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, sesame, or other ingredients be listed prominently on package whether it appears on the principal display panel, information panel or both. 
• Name and Address of Manufacturer, Packer, or Distributor: List full street location as well as details about it’s affiliation with the product via verbiage such as “manufactured for” or “distributed by.” This can be placed prominently on the principal display panel and information panel.

Additional food and drink label requirements are that you might have a nutrient content claim highlighting certain benefits of your product or ingredients which must not be larger than twice the size as the font used for the statement of identity. Among the other nutrition label requirements for your product is that you must have a distinct barcode and expiration or sell-by dates down to the month, day, and year. 

Ask About Food and Drink Label Requirements at Chicago Color Label

If you have more questions on USA food label and drink label requirements, reach out to our team at Chicago Color Label for more information. You can also find plenty of great options  on our website when it comes to commercial printers and inks to make your statement stand out and reach your audience. Be sure to request a free sample of colors to see which you like best and check out our growing blog for all of your labeling and printing needs!