FDA Food Labeling Requirements for Small Businesses
Federal food labeling looks intimidating from the outside, but it comes down to a short list of required elements. Here is the checklist every packaged food has to meet, and how cottage food fits on top of it.
The core required elements
A packaged food label carries a standard set of information. Get these right and you have covered the bulk of what is asked.
- Statement of identity: the common name of the food, on the front
- Net quantity of contents: how much is inside, on the front, usually in both US and metric units
- Ingredient list: every ingredient, heaviest first, by common name
- Allergen declaration: the major allergens in the recipe, named by food source
- Name and place of business: who made or distributes it, and where
- Nutrition Facts panel: required for most packaged foods, with some small-business and cottage food exemptions
Front of pack versus information panel
Two elements, the product name and the net quantity, go on the front, the part of the package a shopper sees first. The ingredient list, allergen statement, business name and address, and Nutrition Facts panel group together on the information panel, usually to the right of the front or on the back.
Where cottage food changes things
Cottage food laws are a state layer on top of the federal rules. The most common change is that cottage food sold directly to customers is often exempt from the Nutrition Facts panel, while still requiring the other elements plus a home-kitchen disclaimer that names your state. The federal elements do not disappear; the panel requirement is what usually relaxes.
When the panel is required anyway
Selling wholesale, shipping across state lines, listing on a marketplace, or making a nutrition claim generally brings the Nutrition Facts panel back. A very small business can qualify for a separate panel exemption, but the safest plan is to be able to produce the panel when a buyer or a marketplace asks. Nutripane builds every element on this list from your recipe.
Questions
What are the FDA required elements on a food label?
The statement of identity (product name), the net quantity of contents, the ingredient list, the allergen declaration, and the name and place of business, plus a Nutrition Facts panel for most packaged foods. The product name and net quantity go on the front; the rest group on the information panel.
Are small food businesses exempt from the Nutrition Facts panel?
Sometimes. Cottage food sold directly to customers is often exempt, and a separate exemption exists for very small businesses selling low volumes. But wholesale, interstate, marketplace sales, and nutrition claims usually require the panel, so it is wise to be able to produce one. Confirm your situation with the FDA and your state.
Keep reading
This page is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food and food labeling rules vary by state and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your state's cottage food program and the FDA before you sell. See your state's rules or how to label your product.