Food Labeling & Nutrition
These FDA Food Labeling web pages address the labeling requirements for foods under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and its amendments. Food labeling is required for most prepared foods, such as breads, cereals, canned and frozen foods, snacks, desserts, drinks, etc. Nutrition labeling for raw produce (fruits and vegetables) and fish is voluntary. We refer to these products as "conventional" foods. For detailed information on dietary supplements, a special category of products that comes under the general umbrella of foods, but which has separate labeling requirements, see "Dietary Supplements."*
* Terms such as "functional foods" or "nutraceuticals" are widely used in the marketplace. Such foods are regulated by FDA under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, even though they are not specifically defined by law.
What's New
August 2023
April 2023
March 2023
- FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Dietary Guidance Statements on Food Labels
- FDA To Propose to Permit Salt Substitutes to Reduce Sodium in Standardized Foods
February 2023
- FDA Withdraws Proposed Rule on General Principles for Food Standards Modernization
- FDA Releases Draft Guidance on Labeling of Plant Based Milk Alternatives
- FDA Provides Guidance on Protein Quality Studies for Infant Formula
- FDA Announces Qualified Health Claim for Cocoa Flavanols in High Flavanol Cocoa Powder and Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
January 2023
December 2022
- FDA Issues Uniform Compliance Date for Final Food Labeling Regulations
- FDA Reminds Manufacturers of Effective Date for Sesame as a Major Food Allergen
- Update on the Standard of Identity for Yogurt
November 2022
- FDA Issues Guidances on Food Allergen Labeling Requirements
- Update on Proposed Definition for “Healthy” Claim on Food Labels
October 2022
- FDA to Host Webinar Series to Discuss the Infant Formula Transition Plan for Exercise of Enforcement Discretion
- FDA to Host Webinar to Discuss Proposed Changes to the Definition of “Healthy”
September 2022
May 2022
March 2022
- FDA Issues Additional Procedural Notice on Consumer Research on “Healthy” Symbol
- Update on FDA Standard of Identity for Yogurt
January 2022
November 2021
October 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
January 2021
December 2020
- FDA Proposes to Revoke the Standard of Identity for French Dressing
- FDA Proposes to Revoke Standard of Identity for Frozen Cherry Pie
- FDA Issues Final Guidance Regarding Use of an Alternate Name for Potassium Chloride in Food Labeling
November 2020
October 2020
- FDA Seeks Input on Nutrition Labeling for Certain Sugars and Issues Final Guidance on Allulose
- FDA Seeks Input on Labeling of Food Made with Cultured Seafood Cells
September 2020
August 2020
May 2020
April 2020
- FDA Extends Reopened Comment Period on General Principles for Food Standards Modernization
- FDA Provides Temporary Flexibility Regarding Packaging and Labeling of Shell Eggs Sold to Consumers by Retail Food Establishments During COVID-19 Pandemic
- FDA Provides Flexibility Regarding Menu Labeling Requirements for Chain Restaurants and Similar Retail Food Establishments During the COVID-19 Pandemic
March 2020
- FDA Provides Temporary Flexibility Regarding Nutrition Labeling of Certain Packaged Food in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- FDA Announces It Will Reopen the Comment Period on the Use of Ultrafiltered Milk in Certain Cheeses
- FDA Releases Educational Materials on the Updated Nutrition Facts Label
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
- Final Guidance on Serving Sizes, Dual-Column Labeling
- FDA Reopens Comment Period on Use of Ultrafiltered Milk in Certain Cheeses
October 2019
- Final Rule on Food Labeling: Calorie Labeling of Articles of Food Sold from Certain Vending Machines
September 2019
August 2019
- Guidance for Industry: Policy Related to Cranberry Products with Added Flavorings
- Guidance for Industry: Converting Units of Measure for Folate, Niacin, and Vitamins A, D, and E on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
- Fact Sheet: FDA's Implementation of Menu Labeling Moving Forward
June 2019
March 2019
Topics
- FDA’s Nutrition Initiatives
- Label Claims for Food & Dietary Supplements
- Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label
- Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling
- Use of the Term Healthy on Food Labeling
- Menu and Vending Machines Labeling Requirements
- Gluten-Free Labeling
- Sodium Reduction
- Food Allergies
- Dietary Fiber
- Nutrition Education Resources & Materials
- Nutrition Labeling Information for Restaurants & Retail Establishments
- Food Standards (includes Inventory of Temporary Marketing Permits Granted under 21 U.S.C. 341 for Definitions and Standards of Identity for Food)