Food label requirements, by product category
The rules that actually apply to yourproduct — not generic labeling advice. Each page covers the category’s real serving size (RACC row), who regulates it (FDA vs USDA vs TTB), acidified-food and standard-of-identity rules where they bite, allergens, and the cottage food picture across all 15 states we track.
Salsa label requirements
Everything a jarred salsa label needs: the 2 tbsp RACC, acidified food rules under 21 CFR 114, allergens, and the states that ban salsa from cottage food.
Read the rules →Granola label requirements
What FDA requires on a bag of granola: the 60 g serving size most makers get wrong, allergen naming, the dual-column pouch trap, and claim thresholds.
Read the rules →Honey label requirements
What FDA requires on a jar of honey, the added sugars line that shows a %DV with no grams, floral source naming, and how honey rules change state by state.
Read the rules →Spice blend label requirements
When you may write "spices" instead of naming each one, why a seasoning panel rounds to all zeros, the sodium exception, and net weight on a bulky product.
Read the rules →Jam label requirements
21 CFR Part 150 decides whether your product is legally "jam." 65% soluble solids, 45 parts fruit to 55 parts sugar, and what to call it if you miss.
Read the rules →Kombucha label requirements
At 0.5% ABV kombucha stops being FDA food and becomes a TTB alcohol beverage. The threshold, Juice HACCP, added sugars after fermentation, and the RACC.
Read the rules →Pickle label requirements
Pickle label requirements: the FDA panel, the 30 g RACC, why low sodium is off the table, and the 21 CFR 114 acidified rules a label won't solve.
Read the rules →Cookie label requirements
The 30 g cookie RACC puts a 60-90 g bakery cookie in the mandatory dual-column band. Allergens, claims you can't make, and when you're exempt.
Read the rules →Hot sauce label requirements
Hot sauce label requirements: the 1 tsp RACC, why your panel reads all zeros, acidified food filings, allergens, and state-by-state cottage food rules.
Read the rules →Beef jerky label requirements
Beef jerky is regulated by USDA-FSIS, not FDA. Prior label approval, the mark of inspection, 9 CFR 317 nutrition rules, and which jerky is FDA's instead.
Read the rules →Protein bar label requirements
Protein bar label requirements: Nutrition Facts vs Supplement Facts, why a high protein claim needs PDCAAS, added sugars from dates, RACC and dual columns.
Read the rules →Bbq sauce label requirements
BBQ sauce label requirements: the 2 tbsp RACC, the added sugars line, acidified food filings under 21 CFR 114, allergens, and state cottage food rules.
Read the rules →More categories are on the way. Every page cites the CFR section and is date-stamped. Selling cottage food? Start with the state-by-state cottage food rules.