How much does it cost to get a nutrition facts label?

October 19, 2025 •

4 min read

Food businesses spent an estimated $1.5 billion on food labeling in 2023, reflecting the critical investment in regulatory compliance. This guide will detail how much does it cost to get a nutrition facts label, covering the various methods and associated fees for a comprehensive budget breakdown.

Quick Summary

The expense of obtaining a nutrition facts label varies significantly based on the analysis method, from low-cost software to high-priced lab testing. Factors include product complexity, number of recipes, and additional services like allergen statements. A business's budget and product requirements are key to selecting the right approach.

Key Points

Method Matters: The cost is primarily determined by the method chosen, with database software being the cheapest and lab testing the most expensive.
Hidden Costs: Expect additional fees for services like serving size determination, allergen statements, label design, and regulatory review.
Accuracy vs. Cost: Database analysis is fast and cheap but less accurate, while lab testing is accurate but expensive and slower.
Complexity Increases Price: Recipes with many ingredients or special nutrient claims will likely require more complex (and costly) analysis.
Professional Guidance: Hiring a food consultant or dietitian provides expert oversight, ensuring accuracy and full compliance, but at a higher price.

The cost of securing a nutrition facts label for a food product is not a single price but a range determined by the method of nutritional analysis and the level of compliance required. Small businesses and startups can find affordable options, while larger enterprises with complex products may require more extensive and costly laboratory testing. Understanding the different approaches—and their price points—is crucial for effective budgeting.

The Three Primary Methods for Nutritional Analysis

There are three main paths to obtaining the data needed for a nutrition facts panel. The method you choose will have the most significant impact on your final cost.

1. Database Analysis

This is often the most affordable and quickest option, using a software program that calculates nutritional values based on your recipe's ingredients. You enter your recipe and the software pulls data from authoritative food composition databases.

Pros: Fast turnaround, low cost, and can be completed in-house with certain software.
Cons: Less accurate for highly processed foods or recipes with proprietary ingredients, as results are theoretical and not chemically tested.

2. Laboratory Testing

For the most accurate and legally defensible results, a food sample is sent to a laboratory for chemical analysis. This is the gold standard for compliance, especially for products making specific nutrient claims.

Pros: Highly accurate, official results that stand up to regulatory scrutiny.
Cons: Can be expensive and have a long turnaround time (weeks), and added sugars require supplemental record-keeping.

3. Hiring a Professional Consultant

This method combines expert human analysis with software or lab testing. A food consultant or registered dietitian works with your recipe to determine serving sizes, analyze nutrient data, and ensure full compliance with regulatory standards.

Pros: Expert guidance, error reduction, and comprehensive support for complex labeling issues.
Cons: Higher overall cost due to professional hourly fees.

Cost Comparison: Software vs. Lab Testing vs. Consulting


Feature	Database Software (e.g., ReciPal, MenuSano)	Laboratory Testing (e.g., SGS, Medallion Labs)	Professional Consulting (e.g., Food Lab, NutriData)
Cost per Recipe	Low (e.g., $29 single recipe, $49-$59/month subscription)	High (e.g., $800+ for a standard nutrient screen, often requires additional tests)	Variable (e.g., $250-$360 for database-based analysis, hourly rates $95-$125)
Turnaround Time	Immediate	Weeks (2-4 weeks standard, rush services extra)	Days to weeks, depending on service and complexity
Accuracy	Theoretical; depends on database quality.	High; based on chemical analysis.	Combines database speed with human expertise.
Best For	Small startups, simple recipes, budget-conscious producers.	Established brands, complex formulas, products with nutrient claims.	Those seeking expert guidance and full compliance assurance.

Breaking Down Additional Costs and Considerations

Beyond the base nutritional analysis, several other factors can influence the final cost of a nutrition facts label. Food entrepreneurs should account for these in their budget planning.

Serving Size Determination: Establishing the correct serving size is a crucial part of the labeling process and can sometimes be an additional service with a fee.
Additional Nutrients: If you need to test for or declare voluntary nutrients (e.g., specific vitamins or minerals), expect additional charges. For example, testing for Vitamin D via lab analysis might cost an extra $300.
Ingredient and Allergen Statements: Many services bundle the creation of a compliant ingredient list and allergen statement, but it's often a separate fee. A compliance kit might cost around $360, while a basic nutrition panel could be $240.
Label Design and Formatting: Generating a print-ready, compliant label can sometimes be an extra charge, although many services include this in their package prices. Custom formatting might cost $150 or more.
Regulatory Compliance Review: Having a professional review your final label artwork for compliance is a vital step. Fees can range from a few hundred dollars to nearly $600 for a thorough review.
Specialty Labels: Products intended for foreign markets (e.g., Canadian, EU) or those requiring bilingual text will incur additional fees.
Label Modifications: Changing a recipe or serving size after the initial analysis will result in additional charges, though typically less than the original cost.

Conclusion: Choosing Your Best Path

Deciding how much it costs to get a nutrition facts label hinges on your specific needs, budget, and product complexity. For a small food startup with simple recipes, a reputable software service offers an efficient and low-cost entry point into compliance. For an established brand or a product with high-stakes nutrient claims, the investment in full laboratory testing provides the highest level of accuracy and regulatory assurance. For many, a professional consultant strikes a balance, providing expert oversight at a moderate cost. By understanding these options and their associated expenses, you can make an informed decision and allocate your resources effectively to achieve a fully compliant nutrition facts label.

Datacor provides a helpful comparison of database and lab analysis for food businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

The cheapest method is using a nutritional analysis software, which can cost as little as $29 for a single recipe or around $50 per month for a subscription. This relies on a database to calculate nutrient values.

The turnaround time varies by method. Software-based analysis can be nearly instant. Laboratory testing, which requires mailing a sample, typically takes 2-4 weeks, with rush options available for a higher fee.

For many standard products, database analysis is considered acceptable for FDA compliance. However, it is a theoretical calculation. For processed foods, products with unique ingredients, or those making specific nutrient claims, lab testing is recommended for higher accuracy and stronger legal defense.

Factors that increase the cost include using laboratory testing instead of software, adding specialized nutrient claims, requiring international labels, and needing a comprehensive regulatory compliance review.

Often, yes. Many nutrition analysis services treat the ingredient list and allergen statement as separate, though often bundled, services. Some packages include them, while others charge an additional fee.

Database analysis calculates nutritional content based on ingredient composition, offering a theoretical value. Lab analysis involves chemically testing a finished product sample to determine its actual nutrient composition, providing a more precise result.

Modifying a label for a minor recipe change is typically cheaper than the initial analysis. Some services offer discounts for similar products or charge a reduced fee (e.g., $50) for small adjustments to a previously analyzed recipe.