The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict standards for the food and beverage industry. They control the majority of food vending businesses and enforce regulations in the industry. Our read will look at the basics of food packaging and product labeling in the United States of America. The information herein will help comply with regulating authority and attain industry standards.
The Components to Include in Packaging and Their Placement
Food packages have various sides, some more prominent than others due to their visibility to customers. The principal display area is the section a buyer will see more quickly, and the information panel is on its right side. The food prep label printer will optimize package labeling for food products. Here are some mandatory elements to include;
- Statement of identity: It includes a product’s and registered company name. If these two are unavailable, the packaging should describe the food inside, but it doesn’t have a brand name. The font size should be half that of the largest on the package. The statement of identity is the primary component of the principal display panel (PDP).
- Net quantity: It indicates the food amount, which can be a number, weight or measure depending on the contents. The information will go to the bottom of the PDP, and the space available will determine the choice in font size.
- Nutrition facts label: It details the nutritional benefits of food products to customers. FDA has a specific format for food vendors depending on the item they are selling and package size. It includes the serving amount per container/person and a list of nutrients with their amounts in the product. The nutritional facts label is commonly placed on the information panel, but putting it on the PDP is okay.
- Ingredient statement: display a product’s ingredients on the same side as the manufacturer’s info and list them according to weight. Although there are no fixed fonts, the ingredient statement should be legible. The information is usually next to the nutrition facts value panel.
- Allergen declaration: food product packaging must declare any allergens in their goods in simple language. It is on the same side as the nutrition facts label.
- Manufacturer’s or distributor’s name: manufacturers or distributors must indicate their name and association with the product on the package.
Packaging and Labeling Food Products
Food prep label printers use software to help design the information to display on a package. How to label food products depends on their packaging. The primary packaging protects foodstuffs from contact with external factors. They are printable surfaces and essential for food safety. The raw material for primary packages varies depending on their contents.
A secondary food package is necessary for goods shipped to other locations to prevent physical damage to products from vibrations. Examples are boxes and crates. You can label the packaging directly on the surface or stick a label on it.
Sometimes foodstuffs may require additional wrapping to the secondary packaging, especially when shipping them in bulk. Pallets are the widely used tertiary packaging in the food industry. It is vital to work with professionals in product labeling and packaging solutions.