Cway’s guide to FDA label compliance

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a critical role in safeguarding public health by regulating the food and beverage industry, among many other sectors. Established in 1906 under the Food and Drugs Act, the FDA was created to combat rampant mislabeling and ensure that food products were safe for consumption. Over the years, its mission has expanded, and today, the FDA not only regulates food and beverages but also oversees drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and more.

One of the FDA’s key functions is to enforce food labeling standards, which ensure that ingredients, nutritional information, and potential allergens are clearly stated on product labels. These standards also cover aspects such as health claims and nutrient content, ensuring that any product promoting itself as "low fat" or "high in fiber" meets the strict criteria set by the FDA.

As companies face evolving regulations, balancing compliance with digital transformation is challenging. Cway offers smart compliance solutions tailored to the needs of food and beverage brands.

This article explores regulatory compliance in the food and beverage sector, highlighting the key rules brands must follow and how Cway can assist in meeting them.

Key FDA Standards for Food and Beverage Labeling

1. Principal Display Panel (PDP) Requirements

The Principal Display Panel (PDP) is the most visible part of the food or beverage packaging, and it must provide the consumer with essential information at a glance. The PDP must include:

• Statement of Identity: The common name or description of the product (e.g., "orange juice" or "whole grain bread").
• Net Quantity of Contents: This must be expressed in both U.S. customary units (e.g., ounces, pounds) and metric measurements (e.g., grams, milliliters), with the font size proportional to the package size.

2. Information Panel Content

The Information Panel is typically located directly to the right of the PDP and contains more detailed information, including:

• Ingredient List: All ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight. The names of ingredients must be in their common or usual form.
• Allergen Declaration: Any of the eight major food allergens (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy) must be clearly identified in the ingredient list or with a "Contains" statement.
• Nutrition Facts Label: This standardized label must include details such as serving size, total calories, and nutrient content (including fats, carbohydrates, sugars, fiber, protein, and certain vitamins and minerals).

3. Nutrition Facts Panel

The Nutrition Facts Panel is one of the most important parts of a food label and must follow a strict format. It must provide information on:

• Serving Size: Standardized serving sizes must be used to reflect the amount typically consumed by the public.
• Calories: Clearly indicate the total calories per serving.
• Nutrient Content: This includes total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, fiber, sugars (including added sugars), and protein.
• Micronutrients: Important vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium must be included with their corresponding % Daily Values (%DV).

Source: What’s on the Nutrition Facts Label

4. Health and Nutrient Content Claims

Any claims made about a product’s nutrient content or health benefits must be carefully regulated:

• Nutrient Content Claims: Terms like "low fat" or "high fiber" must meet specific FDA definitions. For instance, "low sodium" must mean the product contains 140 mg or less per serving.
• Health Claims: Health claims, such as "may reduce the risk of heart disease," can only be used if supported by substantial scientific evidence and approved by the FDA.

5. Allergen Labeling

In compliance with the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), manufacturers must clearly label any of the eight major food allergens if present. This can be done by listing them in the ingredient list or using a "Contains" statement (e.g., "Contains soy, milk").

6. Country of Origin Labeling

For imported foods, the Country of Origin must be declared on the label, ensuring transparency about the source of the product.

7. Legibility and Font Size

The FDA requires that all label text, including nutrition information and allergen declarations, must be legible, with specific requirements for font size and contrast. For instance, the type size for certain mandatory information must be at least 1/16 of an inch in height.

How Cway Can Help Ensure FDA Label Compliance

Cway provides comprehensive solutions to help businesses navigate the complexities of FDA label compliance with ease. Here’s how Cway can assist:

Centralized Storage and Management

Cway offers a centralized platform for storing and managing all label-related assets, from design files to regulatory documentation. This ensures that all stakeholders have access to the most up-to-date versions, reducing errors and improving consistency across product labels.

Enhanced Collaboration

With Cway’s collaboration tools, teams across departments can work together more efficiently. This fosters seamless communication between regulatory, design, and production teams, ensuring everyone is aligned on compliance requirements and label updates.

Effortless Artwork Approvals 

Cway’s advanced artwork Viewer streamlines the traditionally stressful approval process, making it secure, fast, and effortless. It simplifies artwork review, feedback, and approvals with smart tools for measuring, annotation, and visual display in a scalable browser window. Features like revision comparison minimize errors and significantly speed up reviews, freeing up more time to focus on branding.

Seamless Control and Security 

Cway provides control and security through key features like a centralized workspace with real-time collaboration, integrated workflows, and storage. Automated notifications, revision comparisons, and planning tools enhance transparency, reduce errors, and prevent file loss. Project managers get instant status updates with comprehensive overviews of all artwork stages and tasks, ensuring smooth progress toward deadlines.

By using Cway’s tools and services, food and beverage manufacturers can streamline the labeling process, ensuring that their products meet FDA standards without the risk of non-compliance.