Wholesale Manufactured Foods New Business Guide
Food Labeling

Packaged foods must be labeled as stated in the Food Labeling law. The links below provide the labeling requirements.

• 21 CFR Part 101 - Food Labeling
• FDA Food Labeling Guide
• MDARD Food Labeling Guide  

Nutrition Facts Panels

The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) of 1990 mandated a standardized Nutrition Facts Panel on most food packages, providing consumers with detailed nutritional information to aid in making informed food choices. Many small-scale food processors are exempt from the Nutrition Facts Panel. The details of this exemption can be found in the Small Business Nutrition Labeling Exemption Guide.  

If you use a statement that references a nutrient, like “Low Salt,” “No Sugar,” “Reduced Calorie,” “Low Fat,” “Low Cholesterol,” or “High Fiber,” or make a health claim, then a nutrition facts panel is required.  

For more information, see the FDA’s Labeling and Nutrition Guidance Documents.   

Food Allergens

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) of 2004 and the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021 mandate that food labels clearly identify ingredients containing major food allergens. The nine major food allergens are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. For more information about identifying food allergens on labels, review the FDA’s food allergen guidance for industry.