Food Labeling

Food labeling covers what a packaged food’s label must show under federal rules: the product name, net quantity, ingredient list, Nutrition Facts, major allergens, and the name and address of the responsible business.

  • Food safety
  • Allergens & labeling

For FDA-regulated packaged foods, the label has two key areas: the principal display panel, or front, and the information panel, usually just to its right. The front carries the statement of identity (the food’s name) and the net quantity, in both metric and U.S. units, within the bottom 30% of the panel. The information panel usually holds the ingredient list in descending order of predominance by weight, the Nutrition Facts box, the major allergen declaration and the name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. Many of the core rules are in 21 CFR Part 101.

The label is how shoppers learn what is in a food, and for people with food allergies it is a safety tool. Labeling mistakes drive many recalls: University of Minnesota Extension reports that an FDA study found 70% of allergen-related recalls from 2013 to 2019 came from labeling errors, such as labels not updated after a recipe change or placed on the wrong product. Clear, accurate labels protect customers and the business.

Key facts

Net quantity placement
Bottom 30% of the front panel
Retailer nutrition label exemption
Up to $500,000 total sales or $50,000 food sales to consumers
Low-volume nutrition exemption
Under 100 FTEs and 100,000 units a year; annual notice
Allergen recalls from label errors, 2013–2019
70%

In a bakery or commercial kitchen

  • Show a clear statement of identity, such as “Vanilla Pound Cake,” in bold type on the front panel
  • Place net weight, in both metric and U.S. units, in the bottom 30% of the front panel
  • List ingredients from heaviest to lightest by weight, using each ingredient’s common or usual name
  • Place the “Contains” statement right after or next to the ingredient list, starting with a capital C
  • Check whether you qualify for FDA’s small business nutrition labeling exemption; nutrition claims on the package can disqualify you

For home and cottage bakers

  • Cottage sellers: follow your state’s label rules; Minnesota, for example, requires “homemade and not subject to state inspection”
  • Re-read labels on chocolate chips, mixes and sprinkles each time, since formulas can change even within a brand
  • Update your own labels whenever you change an ingredient, a recipe or a supplier

Related entries

Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 17, 2026.

  1. A Food Labeling Guide: Guidance for Industry, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  2. Small Business Nutrition Labeling Exemption, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  3. Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling Requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Edition 5): Guidance for Industry, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  4. How can food recalls and allergens affect my cottage foods?, University of Minnesota Extension