How to label homemade nut butter for sale
Small-batch peanut and almond butter sell well, and the main allergen is the product itself. Here is what a jar of nut butter needs before you sell it.
What your nut butter label needs
- ✓Product name. The common name of the food, so a buyer knows what it is.
- ✓Net quantity. Nut butter is sold by net weight, for example 12 oz.
- ✓Ingredient list. Every ingredient, listed heaviest-first by weight.
- ✓Allergen statement. A “Contains” line for any of the nine major allergens in your recipe.
- ✓Business name and address. Who made the food and where they can be reached.
- ✓Home-kitchen disclaimer. The cottage food sentence your state requires you to print.
Allergens to watch in nut butter
In nut butter, the allergens to watch are usually peanuts, tree nuts, depending on the nut you use, plus anything you blend in; the nut itself is the headline allergen. Your “Contains” line should reflect what is actually in your recipe, not a generic list.
Nutripane reads the allergens from your ingredients automatically, so the Contains line matches your recipe.
Do you need a Nutrition Facts panel for nut butter?
Nut butter is usually exempt from the Nutrition Facts panel as a cottage food, unless you make a nutrition claim or sell wholesale.
Nutripane builds the Nutrition Facts panel and the ingredient, allergen, and disclaimer label from your recipe, so you are ready whether you need the panel or not.
Can you sell nut butter as a cottage food?
Some states restrict nut butters or ask for extra process controls because of their low-acid nature. Confirm yours is allowed as a cottage food before selling.
One thing sellers miss on nut butter
The nut is the headline allergen, so make the Contains line clear. If you run peanut and tree-nut batches on shared equipment, a may contain line is the honest choice.
Questions
How do I label homemade nut butter?
Jar it with the product name, net weight, an ingredient list, a clear allergen Contains line for the nut, your business name and address, and your state's home-kitchen disclaimer. Confirm your state allows nut butter as a cottage food.
Do I need to warn about cross-contact?
If you make peanut butter and tree-nut butters in the same kitchen, a may contain statement is the honest way to warn allergic buyers about cross-contact. It is voluntary but widely expected.
Where to sell your nut butter
Where you sell decides whether you need a full Nutrition Facts panel. Here is what each channel expects.
Guides to get you started
Labeling another food?
This page is general information, not legal advice. Food labeling and cottage food rules vary by state and county and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your state's cottage food program before you sell. See your state's rules or another product.