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 In this section:

        Food

Food Labeling & Nutrition

                        
                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
          Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods
          Standards of Identity for Food
          Menu and Vending Machine Labeling
          Plant-Based Milk Alternatives (PBMA)
          Nutrition Labeling Information for Restaurants & Retail Establishments


                Food Allergies
          Nutrition Education Resources & Materials Home
          Food
          Food Labeling & NutritionFood Food Labeling & Nutrition
  	
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    PrintGirl Reading the Food Label
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

2023
	December 2023

FDA Announces Availability of Draft Supplemental Guidance on Menu LabelingNovember 2023

FDA Releases Small Entity Compliance Guide on Final Rule To Revoke the SOIs for Lowfat Yogurt and Nonfat Yogurt and To Amend the Standard for YogurtSeptember 2023

FDA Sponsors Workshops on the Use of Meta-Analyses in Nutrition Research and PolicyAugust 2023

FDA Issues Proposed Rule on Canned Tuna Standards
	FDA to Hold Virtual Public Meeting and Listening Sessions on Strategies to Reduce Added Sugars Consumption in the United StatesApril 2023

Update on the Standard of Identity for YogurtMarch 2023

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Dietary Guidance Statements on Food Labels
	FDA To Propose to Permit Salt Substitutes to Reduce Sodium in Standardized FoodsFebruary 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 DiseaseJanuary 2023

FDA Issues Procedural Notice on Consumer Research on Front-of-Package Labeling

2022
	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 YogurtNovember 2022

FDA Issues Guidances on Food Allergen Labeling Requirements
	Update on Proposed Definition for “Healthy” Claim on Food LabelsOctober 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

FDA Proposes to Update Definition for “Healthy” Claim on Food LabelsMay 2022

FDA to Provide Flexibility to Manufacturers to Increase Infant Formula SuppliesMarch 2022

FDA Issues Additional Procedural Notice on Consumer Research on “Healthy” Symbol
	Update on FDA Standard of Identity for YogurtJanuary 2022

FDA Issues Final Rule to Revoke the Standard of Identity for French Dressing

2021
	November 2021

FDA Issues Guidance on Temporary Marketing PermitsOctober 2021

FDA Issues Sodium Reduction Final GuidanceJune 2021

FDA Issues Final Rule to Revoke the Standards for Lowfat Yogurt and Nonfat Yogurt and Amend the Standard for YogurtMay 2021

FDA Issues Procedural Notice on Consumer Research on “Healthy” SymbolApril 2021

Infant Formula: Safety Do's and Dont'sJanuary 2021

FDA Issues Uniform Compliance Date for Final Food Labeling Regulations

2020
	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 LabelingNovember 2020

FDA Issues Draft Guidance for Industry on Voluntary Disclosure of Sesame When Added as Flavoring or SpiceOctober 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 CellsSeptember 2020

FDA Provides Additional Flexibility Regarding Nutrition and Supplement Facts LabelsAugust 2020

FDA Issues Final Rule on Gluten-Free Labeling of Fermented and Hydrolyzed FoodsMay 2020

FDA Announces Temporary Flexibility Policy Regarding Certain Labeling Requirements for Foods for Humans During COVID-19 PandemicApril 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 PandemicMarch 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 LabelFebruary 2020

FDA Reopens Comment Period on General Principles for Food Standards ModernizationJanuary 2020

Small Entity Compliance Guide: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels

2019
	December 2019

Final Guidance on Serving Sizes, Dual-Column Labeling
	FDA Reopens Comment Period on Use of Ultrafiltered Milk in Certain CheesesOctober 2019

Final Rule on Food Labeling: Calorie Labeling of Articles of Food Sold from Certain Vending MachinesSeptember 2019

Public Meeting on Horizontal Approaches to Food Standards of Identity Modernization on September 27, 2019August 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 ForwardJune 2019

Guidance for Industry: Declaration of Added Sugars on Honey, Maple Syrup, Other Single-Ingredient Sugars and Syrups, and Certain Cranberry ProductsMarch 2019

Guidance for Industry: Voluntary Labeling Indicating Whether Foods Have or Have Not Been Derived From Genetically Engineered Plants
	Draft Guidance for Industry: Voluntary Labeling Indicating Whether Food Has or Has Not Been Derived From Genetically Engineered Atlantic Salmon

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)Related Content

Trans Fat
	Healthy People InitiativeGuidance/Regulations

Guidance for Industry: A Food Labeling Guide
	All Labeling & Nutrition Guidance and Regulations
	Small Business Nutrition Labeling Exemption
	CFR Title 21 Food and Drugs Part 101 Food Labeling

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      12/13/2023
                  
                   
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & BeveragesTopic(s)
			  Nutrition
				  				     				  				  
				  
				   
				  
				  				  LabelingFood Labeling & Nutrition                
                          

                        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
          Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods
          Standards of Identity for Food
          Menu and Vending Machine Labeling
          Plant-Based Milk Alternatives (PBMA)
          Nutrition Labeling Information for Restaurants & Retail Establishments


                        Food Allergies
          Nutrition Education Resources & Materials
 
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