FDA Nutrition Label Rounding Rules: A Practical Guide
Learn FDA nutrition label rounding rules for calories, fat, sodium, carbs, and % Daily Value, with examples that keep your food label accurate.
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Organic Claims on Food Labels: What the Four USDA Tiers and Canada's Rules Actually Require
Before you print "organic" on your package, you need to run a calculation the USDA requires. That calculation puts your product in one of four regulatory categories, each with different permissions and required label text.
August 31, 2026
"Calcium Builds Strong Bones" Is Fine. "Reduces Risk of Osteoporosis" Requires FDA Permission.
Health claims and structure/function claims look similar on a label but operate under completely different rules. One requires FDA pre-authorization. One does not. Knowing which is which before you print matters.
August 24, 2026
Statement of Identity: What Your Food Product Must Be Called on the Front of the Package
A beautiful brand name is not a statement of identity. 21 CFR 101.3 tells you what the product must be called on the front panel, in what size, and in what typeface.
August 20, 2026
Does Your Food Product Need a Nutrition Facts Panel? The FDA Small Business Exemption
FDA's 21 CFR 101.9(j) exempts some small businesses from the Nutrition Facts panel requirement. The thresholds are specific, the annual notice is easy to miss, and one claim on the label voids it instantly.
August 6, 2026
How Much Does a Nutrition Facts Label Cost? (2026)
Lab analysis, database software, and done-for-you services each get you a Nutrition Facts label at different prices and with different results. Here is what each approach actually costs.
August 4, 2026
What 'Best By,' 'Use By,' and 'Sell By' Mean on Your Food Label
Most packaged foods have no federal requirement to carry a date. California AB 660 changed that for products sold there as of July 1, 2026, and Canada works differently again. Here is what applies to your product.
July 30, 2026
Bioengineered Food Disclosure: What the USDA Mandate Means for Your Label
The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard has been mandatory since January 1, 2022, but many first-time food founders still don't know it applies to them. Here is what 7 CFR Part 66 actually requires.
July 27, 2026
Net Quantity Declarations on Food Labels: What 21 CFR 101.7 Actually Requires
Most founders get the net quantity statement wrong on placement, type size, or units. What 21 CFR 101.7 requires, and where the common mistakes happen.
July 23, 2026
FDA or USDA? Which Agency Actually Regulates Your Food Label
Most food founders assume FDA regulates their label. If your product contains meat, poultry, or processed egg ingredients, a different agency is in charge, with different rules and a mandatory approval step FDA does not require.
July 20, 2026
Nutrition Facts Panel Format Requirements Under 21 CFR 101.9
The Nutrition Facts panel requires correct format as well as correct data. 21 CFR 101.9 specifies element order, panel variation, and type constraints.
July 16, 2026
FDA Nutrient Content Claims: Definitions and Thresholds
Low fat, good source, and low sodium are regulated terms. Using them without meeting the FDA thresholds in 21 CFR 101.13 makes the label non-compliant.
July 13, 2026
FDA Ingredient Statement: What 21 CFR 101.4 Requires
FDA 21 CFR 101.4 specifies the exact rules for ingredient order, naming, and disclosure. Most founders only discover the gaps at the review stage.
July 9, 2026
Gluten-Free Claims on Food Labels: FDA and Health Canada
Gluten-free is a regulated claim under 21 CFR 101.91 and Health Canada FDR B.24.018. Rules differ between the two systems and affect your label.
July 6, 2026
Food Allergen Declarations: FDA and CFIA Requirements
There are nine major allergens under US law, not eight. FDA and CFIA have different requirements for declaring them on a compliant label.
June 29, 2026
FDA's Two-Panel System: What Must Appear Where on Your Food Label
FDA sets exact placement rules for your food label. Each required element has a designated panel, and getting it wrong means redesigning the artwork.
June 22, 2026
What Your Food Label Must Change to Sell in Canada
A US food label fails several Canadian requirements. Bilingual text, Health Canada FOP symbol, and CFIA ingredient rules each require changes.
June 15, 2026
FDA Sets Your Serving Size: How the RACC System Works
FDA determines your serving size before you design a label. The RACC system has specific rules, and first-time founders routinely get them wrong.
June 9, 2026
Food Label Regulatory Changes Brands Need to Watch in 2026
Why food labels are now a compliance strategy, not just packaging, and the five changes brands need to watch in 2026.
June 1, 2026
Food Label Failure Modes and the Regulations Behind Each
Five food label compliance failures North American brands repeat most often, and the FDA 21 CFR and CFIA rules that govern each one.
April 14, 2026
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