How do I get a nutrition label for my product? A Comprehensive Guide

December 12, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the FDA, most packaged food products sold in the U.S. require a nutrition facts label to inform consumers. To get a nutrition label for your product, you must accurately determine its nutritional content using laboratory analysis, database calculations, or specialized software.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the available methods for creating a compliant nutrition label. It outlines the steps for gathering nutritional data, adhering to FDA regulations, and choosing the best approach for your specific product and business needs.

Key Points

Choose a Method: Determine whether lab testing, database analysis, or software is best for your product based on accuracy needs and budget.
Understand FDA Rules: Serving sizes must align with Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACCs) set by the FDA.
Apply Rounding Rules: Use FDA-mandated rounding conventions for all nutrient values to ensure consistency.
Include All Mandatory Nutrients: The updated FDA label requires specific nutrients like Calories, Added Sugars, Vitamin D, and Potassium.
Prioritize Accuracy: Inaccurate labels can lead to expensive recalls and damage your brand's reputation.
Format Correctly: Ensure your label adheres to the official FDA panel format, including font size and bolding.

Understanding the Options for Nutritional Analysis

To obtain a nutrition label for your product, you first need to perform a nutritional analysis. There are three primary methods for achieving this, each with its own advantages and costs. The right choice depends on your budget, timeline, and the complexity of your product's recipe.

Method 1: Laboratory Testing

This is the most precise and accurate method for determining the nutrient profile of your product. You send a finished product sample to a certified food testing laboratory for chemical analysis.

Pros: Highly accurate, scientifically proven results, essential for complex foods.
Cons: Most expensive, can be time-consuming, and requires re-testing if the recipe changes.

Method 2: Nutritional Database Analysis

This approach uses extensive food databases, such as the USDA FoodData Central, to calculate your product’s nutrition facts based on its recipe. You input ingredient quantities, and the software aggregates values.

Pros: Generally accurate for simple recipes, less expensive and faster than lab testing.
Cons: Less precise for complex recipes, cooking processes that alter nutritional value, or ingredients not in the database.

Method 3: Software and Online Generators

These tools use built-in nutritional databases to quickly generate an FDA-compliant label from your recipe input. Many also handle FDA rounding rules.

Pros: Fast, affordable, user-friendly for quick modifications.
Cons: Accuracy depends on database quality and recipe complexity. Not ideal for highest precision needs.

Comparison of Nutritional Analysis Methods


Feature	Laboratory Testing	Nutritional Database	Software/Generator
Accuracy	Highest	Moderate to High	Moderate to High
Cost	High ($500-$1500+ per SKU)	Low ($0 - subscription)	Low ($0 - subscription)
Speed	Slow (weeks)	Fast (minutes)	Fast (minutes)
Best For	Complex products, high-volume manufacturing, or high-risk claims	Simple recipes, initial product development	Small businesses, rapid prototyping, recipe adjustments
Effort	Low (lab does the work)	Medium (manual input)	Medium (manual input)
Compliance	Highest verification	Must be manually verified	Can be automatically formatted

The Step-by-Step Process for Creating Your Label

After choosing a method for nutritional analysis, follow these steps to create your compliant label:

1. Gather Your Nutritional Data

Obtain the raw nutritional data using your chosen method. This requires a precise recipe for database/software or a product sample for lab testing.

2. Determine the Serving Size

Serving sizes must align with FDA's Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACCs) for similar products. Choose the RACC that best represents typical consumption.

3. Apply FDA Rounding Rules

Apply FDA's specific rounding rules to the nutrient values per serving to ensure consistency and readability. Software can often automate this.

4. Include All Mandatory Nutrients

Ensure the label includes all nutrients required by updated FDA regulations, such as Calories, Total Fat, Sodium, Total Carbohydrate, Protein, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, and Potassium.

5. Format Your Label Correctly

Format the information according to the FDA-approved layout, including font size, bolding, and potential dual columns for larger packages. Online generators or consultants can assist. More details on formatting are available on the official FDA website regarding labeling regulations.

Ensuring Compliance and Avoiding Mistakes

Manufacturers are responsible for label accuracy and compliance. Inaccurate labels can result in recalls, fines, and reputational damage. Consider an FDA-compliance expert or robust software to minimize risk. Ingredient lists must be accurate, ordered by descending weight, and clearly indicate allergens.

Conclusion: Making an Informed Decision

Getting a nutrition label for your product involves choosing a method for nutritional analysis (lab testing, database, or software) based on complexity, budget, and desired accuracy. Following FDA guidelines for serving size, rounding, mandatory nutrients, and formatting is crucial for creating a compliant and trustworthy label.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most accurate method is to send a sample of your product to a certified food testing laboratory for chemical analysis. This is recommended for complex products or when precise results are critical.

Yes, online generators and software are a fast, affordable, and user-friendly option. They use ingredient databases to calculate nutritional values and can be suitable for many small businesses with simple recipes.

Yes, certain small businesses or products sold locally in low volume may qualify for exemptions under FDA regulations. It is crucial to check the current FDA guidelines to confirm eligibility for an exemption.

The serving size must be based on the FDA's Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACCs). These reference amounts are established for various food types and reflect actual consumption habits.

Incorrect nutrition labels can lead to FDA warnings, product recalls, fines, and legal issues. It is the manufacturer's responsibility to ensure the label is accurate and compliant.

Yes, if your food product contains any of the major allergens, they must be listed and clearly emphasized within the ingredient list. This is mandatory for consumer safety.

For the most part, yes. Most prepared, packaged foods sold in the U.S. require a nutrition label under FDA regulations. Voluntary labeling is an option for raw produce and fish.