Can You Label Your Food Low-Fat or Fat-Free? The FDA Rule
Low-fat and fat-free are not describing words, they are defined claims with hard numbers behind them. Put one on a label and the FDA holds your food to the limit. Here is where each line is drawn.
Fat-free means under half a gram
Fat-free is less than 0.5 grams of total fat in a serving, and you cannot have added any fat or oil as an ingredient. Zero fat and no fat mean the same limit. It is a strict line, so a food made with butter or oil rarely reaches it.
Low-fat means three grams or less
Low-fat is 3 grams of total fat or less in a serving, using the FDA's reference serving. If your normal serving is very small, the rule measures against a set 50-gram amount instead, so a tiny serving cannot slip under the limit unfairly.
Reduced fat is a comparison, not a level
Reduced fat, or less fat, means at least 25 percent less fat than the regular version of the food, and the label has to name what it is compared to and by how much. It is not the same as low-fat. A reduced-fat food can still be high in fat if the original was, so the two claims are not interchangeable.
What Nutripane does and does not do
Nutripane calculates fat from USDA values and builds the panel and the rest of your label. It does not confirm that your serving hits the fat-free or low-fat limit, because that depends on your recipe and serving size. Treat the fat number as a solid estimate, confirm it before you print the claim, and check the current FDA rule.
Questions
What is the difference between low-fat and fat-free?
Fat-free means under half a gram of fat in a serving with no added fat or oil. Low-fat means 3 grams or less. Fat-free is the stricter of the two, and a low-fat food can still carry a few grams of fat per serving.
Does a low-fat claim require a Nutrition Facts panel?
Yes. Any fat claim is a nutrient content claim, which forces a full Nutrition Facts panel and voids the exemptions that let some cottage sellers skip it. Plan on providing the panel if you want the claim.
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.