How to label homemade spice blends for sale
Dry spice blends are one of the best home foods to sell: shelf-stable, low-risk, and quick to label. Here is what a spice blend jar needs.
What your spice blends label needs
- ✓Product name. The common name of the food, so a buyer knows what it is.
- ✓Net quantity. Spice blends are sold by net weight, and because spices are light the weights are small, for example 2 oz.
- ✓Ingredient list. Every ingredient, listed heaviest-first by weight.
- ✓Allergen statement. A “Contains” line for any of the nine major allergens in your recipe.
- ✓Business name and address. Who made the food and where they can be reached.
- ✓Home-kitchen disclaimer. The cottage food sentence your state requires you to print.
Allergens to watch in spice blends
Most spice blends carry no major allergens, but check for wheat used as a filler, plus sesame, mustard, or any anti-caking carrier. Still check every ingredient against the nine majors (milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame), because add-ins can introduce one. Your “Contains” line should reflect what is actually in your recipe.
Nutripane reads the allergens from your ingredients automatically, so the Contains line matches your recipe.
Do you need a Nutrition Facts panel for spice blends?
Dry spice blends are usually exempt from the Nutrition Facts panel as a cottage food. A claim like salt free adds the panel and extra rules.
Nutripane builds the Nutrition Facts panel and the ingredient, allergen, and disclaimer label from your recipe, so you are ready whether you need the panel or not.
One thing sellers miss on spice blends
List each spice rather than hiding it under spices when a buyer needs to know for allergy or dietary reasons. Name any salt, sugar, or carrier.
Questions
Do I need a nutrition label for a spice blend?
Usually not as a cottage food seller. You need the product name, net weight, an ingredient list, any allergen line, your business name and address, and the home-kitchen disclaimer. A claim such as salt free would trigger a Nutrition Facts panel.
Can I just write spices on the label?
You can group minor spices as spices in some cases, but list anything a buyer needs to know by name, especially possible allergens like mustard or sesame, and any salt or sugar. When in doubt, name it.
Where to sell your spice blends
Where you sell decides whether you need a full Nutrition Facts panel. Here is what each channel expects.
Guides to get you started
Labeling another food?
This page is general information, not legal advice. Food labeling and cottage food rules vary by state and county and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your state's cottage food program before you sell. See your state's rules or another product.