1. The Ins and Outs of Food
Labeling (Part One)
This module is adapted from:
the FDA Food Labeling Guide,
www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/flg-toc.html
Module designed by Tera Sandvik, LRD, Program
Coordinator; Julie Garden-Robinson, PhD, LRD,
Food and Nutrition Specialist; and Tami Totland,
RD, Program Assistant; Module updated May
2014 by Kim Beauchamp, Food Safety/Food
Entrepreneur Extension Specialist.
2014
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4. Overview
This module provides basic
information about food
labeling. When you have
completed this module, you
should have a general
knowledge of the basic rules
and regulations associated
with food labeling.
5. Presurvey
Before we begin, let’s take a presurvey to
see how much you already know.
Click here to begin.
6. History of Food Labels
In November 1990, the Nutrition Labeling
and Education Act (NLEA) became federal
law.
NLEA:
Requires most foods to bear nutrition labeling
Assists the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
assuring all foods sold in the U.S. are safe, wholesome
and correctly labeled
Regulates the labeling of nutrient content and health
claims
7. History Cont.
In 1993, the FDA and Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS) published detailed regulations
defining how to comply with NLEA labeling
requirements.
NOTE:
Changes and amendments are being made to these
regulations continuously.
The food industry is responsible for remaining current
with the legal requirements for food labeling.
8. History Cont.
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) contains
all final regulations issued by the FDA and USDA
by numbered “Titles.”
Title 9 contains USDA regulations on animals and
animal products.
Title 21 covers FDA regulations on food and drugs.
The CFR can be accessed via the Internet at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisi
dx_09/21cfr101_09.html
9. The function(s) of NLEA include:
A. Requiring most foods to bear nutrition labels.
B. Assisting the FDA in assuring foods are safe,
wholesome and correctly labeled prior to
consumption.
C. Regulating nutrient content and health claims on
food products.
D. All of the above
If you chose “D,” you were correct.
NLEA provides all of the services
listed above.
Click to see the answer.
10. Where can the latest FDA and USDA
regulations be found?
A. The Department of Education
B. The Department of Commerce
C. The Code of Federal Regulations
D. None of the above
If you chose “C,” you were correct.
Click to see the answer.
12. Exemptions
Certain small businesses and businesses
meeting other specific criteria are excused
from nutrition labeling.
These exemptions apply only if no
nutrition claim or information is on the
product packaging or in advertising.
13. Foods Under FDA Regulations
The FDA handles all domestic and
imported food sold in interstate
commerce, including shell eggs, but
excluding meat and poultry.
The FDA also oversees bottled water
and wine beverages with less than 7
percent alcohol.
14. FDA Small-business Exemptions
If you qualify for the FDA small-business
exemption and plan to utilize the small-business
exemption, your business must file an annual
notice with the FDA.
If your product or business surpasses the
following criteria, the exemption will expire within
18 months from that date.
15. If you answer “yes” to one of the following you
qualify for the FDA small-business exemption.
In my most recent two-year average, my annual
gross sales to consumers equals less than
$500,000 or my annual gross sales of only food
to consumers equals less than $50,000.
16. My business employs fewer than 100 employees
(based on the average FTEs) and has product*
sales of less than 100,000 units** for each
product.
* A “product” is defined as a food with the same brand
name and statement of identity.
** A “unit” is defined as the package or form in which
the product is offered for sale.
FDA Small-business Exemption Cont.
17. Other FDA Exemptions
If you answer “TRUE” to any of the following
statements for your business, you may be
excused from nutrition labeling.
I manufacture a food product that contains insignificant
amounts of all mandatory nutrients (e.g. plain coffee or
tea, some spices).
My business manufactures restaurant and food service
foods sold for immediate consumption.
The food my business produces is ready to eat, prepared
largely on-site and is not sold outside of that location (e.g.
deli or bakery foods).
My business manufactures foods that will be further
processed, packed or labeled at another location.
Julie’s
Coffee
18. FDA Exemptions Cont.
My food product is packaged with less than 12
spare inches of labeling area and no nutrition claim
is made on the product. On the packaging, I have
provided an address or telephone number where
consumers can obtain nutrition information.
My business manufactures properly labeled
multiunit containers, which consist of unlabeled
individual units. The individual units indicate they
are not labeled for retail sale.
My business sells foods from bulk containers. The
bulk containers are properly labeled.
19. FDA Exemptions Cont.
My business manufactures or
sells single-ingredient fish or
game meats.
I produce infant foods, formula or
medical foods (subject to
separate regulations).
The food(s) my business sells are
among the 20 most commonly
consumed raw fruits, vegetables
and fish (subject to voluntary
regulations).
20. USDA Regulations
The USDA oversees all domestic and imported
meat and poultry and related products (e.g. meat
or poultry-containing stews, pizzas and frozen
foods). Also under USDA control are processed
egg products.
If you answer yes to the following statements,
you are excused from labeling requirements.
21. USDA Exemptions
The food(s) my business produces are raw,
single-ingredient meat and poultry products (e.g.
ground beef, chicken breasts), which are subject
to voluntary regulations.
My business employs fewer than 500 employees
and has sales of less than 100,000 pounds
annually, based on the most recent two-year
average.
22. USDA Exemptions Cont.
My food product is packaged with less than 12 spare
inches of labeling area and no nutrition claim is made
on the product.
On the packaging, I have provided an address or telephone
number where consumers can obtain nutrition information.
My business prepares, serves or sells food products
that are:
ready to eat and are packaged or portioned at retail
Multi-ingredient products processed at a retail store
restaurant or food service foods
23. USDA Exemptions Cont.
My business produces a product that
weighs less than ½ ounce net weight
when packaged.
My business manufactures a food product
that is not for sale to consumers since
further processing or export is intended.
24. If you voluntarily provide a nutrition
label or health claim, the exemptions
listed above no longer will apply and
you will need to meet all labeling
requirements.
25. A business qualifies for a small-business
nutrition labeling exemption from FDA when:
A. Annual gross sales to consumers is less
than $750,000
B. The business employs fewer than 100
workers
C. Product sales equal less than 100,000 units
per product
D.B and C
If you chose “D,” you are correct.
Click to see the answer.
26. What must be provided on the label of a food product
with less than 12 square inches of labeling area?
A. Address
B. Fax number
C. Web site address
D.No information is required
E. All are required
If you chose “A,” you were correct.
Click to see the answer.
27. True or False: A business that meets the
criteria for an FDA or USDA
exemption, but voluntarily decides to
print a nutrition claim of the product,
still is eligible to claim the exemption.
The correct answer is “False.”
Click to see the answer.
28. General Labeling Requirements
Five mandatory components must be on a food
label:
Product Identity
Net Weight
Nutrition Facts (unless exempted)
Ingredient Statement
Place of Business
This information may be located on the Principle
Display Panel (PDP) or Information Panel.
The above information must be printed in English.
29. Principle Display Panel (PDP)
The PDP is the surface area you are able to see
while walking down the grocery store aisle.
The height times the width of the PDP determines
the type size requirement of the food label.
On cylindrical containers, the surface area of the PDP
can be calculated by multiplying 40 percent of the height
by the circumference.
The PDP must include two pieces of information:
Statement of identity, or name of food
Net quantity statement, or amount of product
31. How can consumers identify the PDP
surface of a food package?
A. The PDP surface is adjacent to the front of the
package.
B. The PDP surface is the portion of the package
most likely to be seen at the point of purchase.
C. The PDP surface may be located at the bottom
or top of a food package.
D. None of the above.
If you chose “B,” you were correct.
Click to see the answer.
32. What two pieces of information must
the PDP include?
A. Product identity and Nutrition Facts
B. Net weight and ingredient statement
C. Nutrition Facts and place of business
D. Product identity and net weight
If you chose “D.” you were correct.
Click to see the answer.
33. Statement of Identity
The statement of identity is the common or usual
name of the product contained in the package
(e.g. “soup” or “cereal”).
If no common name is given, then a descriptive
name may be used in place (e.g. vanilla wafers).
The product identity is required in the middle
portion of the PDP’s front label.
It should be dominant and stand out from all other print
and pictures on the package.
35. What would the statement of identity be on a
can of Superstar’s chicken noodle soup?
A. Soup
B. Superstar’s
C. Chicken noodle
D. Both A and B
If you chose “A,” you were correct.
Click to see the answer.
36. Net Quantity Statement
This statement provides the amount of food in
the container or package.
Located in the lower 30 percent of the PDP
Often at the lower right corner of the front label
Only the quantity of food in the package is stated in the
net quantity statement
The weight of the container, wrapping and packing material
may not be included.
The net weight or volume must be listed in
both the U.S. scale and metric scale.
37. Scales
U.S. Scale
Ounces
Pounds
Fluid ounces
Metric Scale
Grams
Kilograms
Milliliters
Liters
For example, “NET WT 6 oz. (170g)” would be an
appropriate net quantity statement. The required
type size will vary by the product’s surface area,
with a minimum height of 1/16 inch required.
39. Which of these is a correct version of a net
quantity statement?
A. NET WT 1 lb 8 oz (680g)
B. 500 ml (1 pt 0.9 fl oz)
C. NET WT 2 Large oz (5g)
D. 1 gallon (3.79L)
If you chose “A,” you were correct.
Click to see the answer.
40. Information Panel
The information panel is the surface area
normally to the right of the PDP.
This would be the label on the right side of the
box.
The information label on a jar would be directly
to the right of the PDP.
On the information panel, we find:
Nutrition Facts
Ingredient statement
Place of business
