The FDA website consists of thousands of pages on food regulations, news, events and new law announcements, food safety tips and resources, answers to frequently asked questions, and other helpful information for both consumers and food business owners.
The problem that many food producers have with the FDA, especially those just starting out with their business, is that the website seems endless and requirements for proper food labeling are very complicated, sometimes even ambiguous. The advice to all food businesses is to consult experts prior to labeling their product.
Before choosing to hire a professional on this matter, it is good to be aware of common labeling mistakes that can put a food business at risk of being penalized by the FDA, and learn some basic things about their food labeling requirements. For example, not everyone needs to label their food product. Cottage Food Operations have state-specific laws and federal guidelines often don’t apply to them, and some states don’t require labels at all. Further, the FDA provides detailed information about how certain small businesses can apply for exemption from food labeling requirements, so it’s worth checking out who belongs to this group.
The following eBook on food labeling requirements was created with the intention of familiarizing food manufacturers and consumers with the complex FDA guidelines in a simplistic and visually engaging way. It is mostly envisioned as a primer for novice food manufacturers who find the bureaucratic language of the regulations difficult to penetrate.
The book explains the most important food labeling points and directs readers to appropriate pages on the FDA website that explain the process in detail. Some of the issues discussed in the eBook are:
- Identifying the 5 basic food labeling elements (statement of identity, the manufacturer/distributor’s address, net weight, ingredients list, nutrition facts)
- Explaining the importance of accurate food label elements placement
- Defining PDP (Principal Display Panel) and Information Panel
- Recognizing potential difficulties with regulations for very small labels
- Type requirements
- Explaining the ingredients list
- Information about allergens labeling
- Brief explanation of the serving size and RACC (Reference Amount Customarily Consumed)
- Information about the proposed changes to nutrition labels
Food producers are responsible for delivering accurate food labels to their food packaging label manufacturers, so it is important to fully understand what information is required to appear on the label and how to go about it to make sure the requirements are met.
Download the eBook
Topics: Food Manufacturing, Industry Trends, Small Businesses Advice
