Nutrition Facts Label Formats: Standard, Tabular, and Linear
The tall black-and-white box is the Nutrition Facts panel most people picture, but it is not the only format the FDA allows. Small packages get simpler layouts, and some packages need a second column. Which one you may use comes down to how much room your package has.
The standard vertical panel
The full vertical panel is the default. Serving size on top, calories large, then the nutrients in a single column with their percent Daily Value down the right. If your package has room for it, this is the format to use, and it is the one buyers recognize on the shelf.
Tabular and linear, for small packages
When a package is too small for the full vertical panel, the FDA allows condensed formats. The tabular format turns the panel on its side into a wide, short block. The linear format runs the nutrients as a single run of text, used only on the smallest packages where nothing else fits. You do not pick these for style; you use them when your available label space drops below set thresholds.
- Standard vertical: the default, for packages with normal label room
- Tabular: a sideways block for packages with limited height
- Linear: a single line of text, reserved for very small packages
The dual-column panel
Some packages hold more than one serving but could reasonably be eaten in one sitting, like a pint of ice cream or a 20-ounce bottle. For those, the FDA requires a dual-column panel that shows the numbers both per serving and per package, so a buyer sees both at a glance. If your product fits that description, plan on two columns.
Which format fits your package
Start from the package. A standard box or bag almost always uses the vertical panel. A tiny package, like a single spice tin or a small candy, may qualify for tabular or linear. A container that holds a couple of servings someone might finish at once may owe a dual column. Measure your available label space before you decide.
Nutripane lays out your panel in the current Nutrition Facts format, so the panel you preview is the one you print. Confirm the format your package size calls for against the FDA rule if you are near a size cutoff.
Questions
What are the different Nutrition Facts label formats?
The FDA allows the standard vertical panel, a tabular version and a linear version for small packages, and a dual-column panel for packages that hold more than one serving but might be eaten in one sitting. The vertical panel is the default; the others apply based on package size and servings.
When do I need a dual-column nutrition label?
When a package holds between one and two servings, or holds multiple servings but could reasonably be consumed at one time, the FDA generally requires a dual-column panel showing amounts per serving and per package. A pint of ice cream and a 20-ounce drink are common examples.
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.