Packaged food product labels must inform you of what is inside.
The Food and Drug Administration or FDA executes regulations set forth in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. These laws ensure that food sold in the U.S. is safe and healthy. In addition, the FDA administers guidelines for the proper labeling of food products.
Food Label Standards
When looking at a food package, can or bottle, the portion of the label that often first catches the eye is the principal display panel. The PDP, which contains the required statements for the product's label, must list the name of the food and the net quantity of the product. To the left of the PDP, another panel displays other specific information about the product. Food packaging also contains other display areas, called alternate product display panels.
Identification
The proper identity of the food must be on the main PDP and alternate panels parallel to the packaging's base. The name of the food, such as "soup," generally is a name recognized by law or is the most common name for the food type. Foods not having a common name must have an explanation that will not mislead the consumer.
The identity of the food must be bold type located on the front panel. The size of the package is required to appear on the same panel as the food name. When looking at the package, you should notice the name of the food as the main part of the front display panel.
Quantity
Labels displaying the actual amount of food contained in the package must be in the U.S. customary and metric forms. The two standards may appear either next to each other or one below the other. The net content label, located in the bottom third of the main PDP, is always parallel to the bottom of the package.
In addition, the print style of the quantity statement must be easy to read with letters no more than three times as high as wide. The print color of the lettering should contrast with the background of the packaging, making reading the net contents easy.
Ingredients
The FDA requires an ingredients list be displayed on the same panel with information about the food manufacturer or distributor. The list of ingredients is in descending order based on the weight, or amount, of each component of the food. Usual names, such as sugar, appear for common ingredients. The common name of chemical preservatives must appear on the label. An ingredients list must tell you the function of the preservative, such as "to protect flavor" or "to prevent spoilage."
Tags: name food, common name, display panel, Food Drug, food must, identity food