Can You Label Your Food Cholesterol-Free or Low-Cholesterol? The FDA Rule
Cholesterol-free reads like an easy win for a plant-based cookie or a nut butter. But the FDA ties every cholesterol claim to a second number, saturated fat, and that is where sellers trip. Here is what each claim really requires.
Cholesterol-free means under two milligrams, with a fat limit
Cholesterol-free is less than 2 milligrams of cholesterol in a serving. But it comes with a partner rule: the same serving also has to hold 2 grams or less of saturated fat. Both conditions have to be true, so a coconut-oil treat with no cholesterol can still fail the claim on saturated fat alone.
Low cholesterol means 20 milligrams or less
Low cholesterol is 20 milligrams of cholesterol or less in a serving, and again 2 grams or less of saturated fat. If your normal serving is small, the rule also measures against a set 50-gram amount. Reduced cholesterol is the comparison version: at least 25 percent less than the regular food, still under the 2-gram saturated-fat cap.
A high-fat food has to show its fat
If the food carries more than 13 grams of total fat in a serving, a cholesterol claim has to disclose that total fat right next to the claim, in type at least half the size of the claim. The point is to keep cholesterol-free from selling a greasy food as if it were light.
What Nutripane does and does not do
Nutripane calculates cholesterol and saturated fat from USDA values and builds the full label. It does not confirm your serving clears both the cholesterol and the saturated-fat limits, since that depends on your recipe and serving size. Treat the numbers as a solid estimate, confirm them before you print the claim, and check the current FDA rule.
Questions
Can a food be cholesterol-free if it has no animal products?
Not automatically. Cholesterol-free requires under 2 milligrams of cholesterol and 2 grams or less of saturated fat per serving. A plant-based food with no cholesterol but high saturated fat, like one made with coconut or palm oil, can still fail the claim on the saturated-fat limit.
What is the difference between cholesterol-free and low cholesterol?
Cholesterol-free means under 2 milligrams of cholesterol per serving. Low cholesterol means 20 milligrams or less. Both also require 2 grams or less of saturated fat in the same serving.
Keep reading
This page is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food and food labeling rules vary by state and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your state's cottage food program and the FDA before you sell. See your state's rules or how to label your product.