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Frequently Asked Questions

Foodlabelmaker.com is an easy-to-use tool designed by nutritionists to help you create regulatory-compliant food labels, automatically identify allergens & manage your recipes in one place. To create labels, you simply need to enter the ingredients of your recipe and specify the quantities. Our software will automatically calculate the nutrition details of your product. If you can’t find the ingredient you are looking for, you can add your own ingredient information to your personal database. With our unique nutrition algorithm, we also look at the ingredients in your recipe and instantly recommend allergens and possible nutrition claims that may go with your product.

Your labels can be customized into different label styles and various formats depending on your needs and local market regulations. We offer customized labels for the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, and the Middle East Markets with the option of language translations.

Our comprehensive recipe management system helps you manage, edit, copy and scale your recipes all in one place. You can also generate detailed recipe cards and download the full nutrition breakdowns of your recipes.

What information must I include on my food label?

Food labelling is required for most prepared foods, such as breads, cereals, canned and frozen foods, snacks, desserts, drinks, etc. 1) Statement of identity. This is the name of your product. 2) Net quantity statement. The weight in grams of your product 3) Name and address of the manufacturer (or packer or distributor). 4) Ingredient list (written in descending order of weight) 5) Nutrition fact label (optional in cases of fresh produce, food that contains insignificant amounts of required nutrients) 6) Allergen ingredient declaration (if any

Do I need to be a nutritionist to use it?

Not really! Foodlabelmaker.com is very user-friendly designed for anyone with or without food/nutrition knowledge to be able to use it. With the different customizations available, it helps you identify which nutrients are too high or too low, what allergens are in your product and what marketing claims you can make. If you do have any questions, our nutritionist would be happy to help you. You can contact her on [email protected]

What is the difference between database analysis and lab analysis?

Database analysis is a computerized analysis using Nutrition Database software while lab analysis requires you to send a physical sample to a lab for chemical analysis. The FDA allows the use of both methods. Database analysis is faster, more cost-effective, and can be more accurate since lab analysis gives you the exact nutrition value of the sample you are analysing without taking into account the small variations that exist within different food samples of the same product.

I cannot find the ingredient I am looking for in the database, what do I do?

You can add your own ingredient information to your personal database. You will then be able to use that ingredient in any of your recipes. Simply click on “Add new Item” in the My ingredients tab. Add the serving size and weight in grams along with the Nutrition facts. You can also select the corresponding allergens to your ingredient.

Can I customize food labels? What are the different label formats and styles that are available on Foodlabelmaker.com?

We have 9 different label formats and style you can choose from:

1) The Standard FDA Label: This is the most common label format set by the FDA.

2) Tabular FDA Label: This label format is similar to the standard FDA label but in a tabular form.

3) Linear FDA label: This label format is suitable for small to medium-sized packages

4) Dual FDA Label Format: This label helps show your product in 2 columns, per serving and per container

5) Canada Bilingual Label Format: This label is based on CFIA regulations and is bilingual in both English & French.

6) Traffic Light Label: Commonly used in the UK, the traffic light system tells you whether a food has high, medium or low amounts of fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt. It will also tell you the number of calories and kilojoules in that product.

7) Restaurant Label: For restaurants and cafes who want to provide their customers with some nutrition facts of their dishes without over-complicating things, this label format is a great option. It simply shows you the calories and macronutrient content (carbohydrates, protein and fat) of each recipe.

8) EU Standard Label: This label format is in compliance with EU regulations

9) Middle East Label Format (in English & Arabic): This label is commonly used and approved by the Saudi Food Drug Authority (SFDA) and applied across the GCC. We also offer this in Arabic

How are the food allergens automatically generated?

Our nutritionists have worked hard to tag the right allergens to the corresponding ingredients. We have considered the top 9 common food allergens (eggs, wheat, soy, cow’s milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame). Once the ingredients of the recipe are inputted, our system automatically generates the possible allergens that may be present. It is always a good idea to double check the labels and specifications of your ingredients in case there are any other traces of food allergens that would normally not be found in that generic ingredient.

What is the difference between number of packages, serving size and suggested serving size?

Inputting the portion and serving size for your recipe can sometimes be confusing! Here’s a brief on what each one means: Package each recipe makes: This represents the number of packaged items your recipe makes. For example, if your batch recipe creates 4 boxes of cereal then you would write 4; and in this case, your product would contain 4 packets of closed cereal boxes in the container. Servings per recipe: This represents the number of servings that each package of your product has. For example, if each box of cereal serves 2 people then you would write 2. Suggested portion size: This is shown as a common household measure that is appropriate to the food (such as cup, tablespoon, piece, slice, or jar). It is manually inputted by you, if you don’t add anything in, then the weight in grams of the serving size will automatically show on its own.

Do you offer a free trial?

Food Label Maker offers a demo of their tool on their website. The demo allows you to input some basic information about your recipe and generate a sample nutrition facts label, which can help you get familiar with the tool’s interface and features. The demo is free and you can try it out several times.

If you need more information, you can also always reach out to us on chat or email us at [email protected]

It's my first time creating a nutrition label, can I get a quick demo?

Yes, you can schedule a call with one of our on-boarding specialists to give you a demo on how our tool works. During the demo, we will show you how to create a nutrition facts label, familiarize you with the tool’s interface and features, and answer any questions you might have.

How do I setup a new recipe?

The first step in creating a new recipe is completing the recipe set up page. On this page you need to enter some basic recipe details.

Recipe Name Choose a name for your recipe
Specify how many packages does the recipe make? This represents the number of packaged items your recipe makes. For example, if you make a recipe batch of 800g of cereal, and that creates 8 packages of 100g cereal, then you would write 8.
How many servings in each package? This represents the number of servings that each package of your product has. For example, if each package of cereal has 100g, and the recommended serving size of cereal is 50g, then each of your cereal packages has 2 servings. If you do not know the recommended serving size of your product, you can check The FDA general guidelines for serving size in the form of Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACCs). Generally speaking, the Serving size is the quantity of a particular product that is meant to be consumed in one sitting based on an average 2,000 calorie per day diet.
Recipe category You have the option to choose a recipe category from a pre-defined list. You can also add your own custom category from My Profile Page.
Suggested serving size The suggested serving size is an optional field, it is the amount of food generally consumed by 1 person per sitting. It is usually written in a common household measure. Examples can be 1 slice, 3 cups, 2 tablespoons, 6 pieces, or 10 fluid ounce (fl oz). It is manually inputted by you, if you don’t add anything in, then the weight in grams of the serving size will automatically show as the serving size.

I can’t find the unit measure for the ingredient I am inputting in your software.

If you can’t find the unit measure for an ingredient you are inputting, there are a few steps you can take:

Use a standard conversion tool: If you have a unit measure that isn’t listed in the database, you can use a standard conversion tool to convert it to a standard unit measure. For example, if you have a recipe that calls for 50 millilitres of oil, you can convert it to tablespoons using a conversion tool.

You can manually weigh an ingredient and convert it to grams. Here are the steps:

Use a digital kitchen scale to weigh the ingredient in the appropriate unit measure (e.g. ounces, pounds, etc.).
Convert the weight to grams. You can use an online conversion tool or formula to do this. For example, to convert ounces to grams, multiply the weight in ounces by 28.35.
Input the converted weight in grams into our software

How can I create sub-recipes?

Create and save sub-recipes easily in your account and insert them in any of your main recipes.

Follow these simple steps:

Create your sub-recipe by clicking on Add new Recipe.
Enter your ingredients and corresponding quantities.
Once you are done, click on Manage Recipe & then Save Sub-recipe
Your recipe will be saved as a sub-recipe in your account
Now, create your main recipe by clicking on Add a new recipe
Enter your ingredients and corresponding quantities.
To enter the sub-recipe, type in the name of your sub-recipe in the ingredient tab, it will appear in the same way as other ingredients appear.

How can I scale my recipes?

Scaling a recipe means adjusting the ingredient quantities and/or the yield of the recipe to make more or less of the final product. There are a few different reasons why you might need to scale a recipe:

You want to make more or fewer servings than the recipe yields.
You want to use a different size or type of baking dish or pan.
You want to adjust the ingredient quantities to suit your taste preferences.

With Food Label Maker, you can scale a recipe up or down with a few simple clicks.

Go to the recipe you would like to scale!
Click on Manage Recipe and Then Scale recipe.
A box will appear where you need to input the scaling factor.

If you want to scale up your recipe 10 times, enter 10. If you want to scale down your recipe use a decimal between 0 and 1. For example enter 0.5 to scale down your recipe by half.

Once you do that, the tool will generate a new recipe with the ingredient quantities adjusted based on your scaling factor. For example, if the original recipe calls for 1 cup of flour, you would multiply 1 by 1.5 to get 1.5 cups of flour for the scaled recipe.

How to do I show or hide specific Nutrients on my label?

Within the customize label section of Food Label Maker, you have the flexibility to show or hide certain nutrients on your label by simply turning On or Off the toggle of each nutrient. Once you turn On the toggle of a nutrient, it appears on your label. And if you turn it Off, the nutrient disappears.

How do I account for ingredient wastage because of preparation, processing or cooking?

To account for ingredient wastage due to preparation, processing, or cooking, you can follow these steps:

Measure the quantity of ingredients required for the recipe before starting the preparation, processing, or cooking.
Weigh the leftover or unused ingredients after the preparation, processing, or cooking.
Calculate the difference between the initial quantity of ingredients and the leftover or unused ingredients. This difference is the amount of ingredients wasted.
Divide the amount of wasted ingredients by the initial quantity of ingredients and multiply by 100 to get the percentage of wastage.

For example, if you needed 1 kg of flour for a recipe and ended up with 100 g of flour leftover, the amount of wasted flour would be 1 kg – 100 g = 900 g. The percentage of wastage would be (900 g / 1 kg) x 100 = 90%.

In Food Label Maker, you can specify the % waste of each ingredient. This is found in the recipe builder page next to each ingredient.

By keeping track of ingredient wastage, you can identify areas where you can improve your recipe or cooking process to reduce waste and save money.

What does recipe yield mean? and when should I manually edit it?

Recipe yield refers to the total amount of food or servings that a recipe will produce. In other words, it’s the final quantity of the prepared dish after following all the steps and instructions in the recipe.

Recipe yield is often expressed as a number of servings or as a weight or volume measurement. For example, a recipe for a batch of cookies might yield 500 g or 24 cookies, or a recipe for a pot of soup might yield 16 fl oz or 6 servings.

Sometimes you will need to manually adjust your recipe yield to account for moisture loss due to cooking, drying, freezing…etc.

Manually adjusting the recipe yield will only change the value of the Serving Size on your label, so that you are showing the correct weight of your package to consumers. It will not change the nutrition facts calculation as it only accounts for Moisture loss.

How can I add my business name and address to the label?

According to regulations, a food label must include the business name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor responsible for the product. This information is required to be included on the label to ensure that consumers can identify the source of the food and contact the responsible party if necessary. The business name and address must be prominently displayed on the label, in a location that is easily visible to consumers.

Adding it on Food Label Maker is simple:

Click the customize label button after you finish building your recipe
Once you click this button, you will find the Add Business Name/address tab
Type in your business name and address and click on save. This will appear at the bottom of your nutrition facts label

How can I download my label?

Once you are done with your recipe, click the download button at the top right. You can choose to download your label in PDF or PNG format and save it as a file on your desktop.

How do I print my labels?

Download and save your label on your computer.
Open the label file in a printing program, such as Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Publisher.
Set up the page size and orientation to match the label size and orientation.
Print the label file using a label printer.

It’s important to note that the FDA has specific requirements for nutrition facts labels, including minimum font size, label dimensions, and placement of specific information. Be sure to review these requirements and ensure that your printed label meets all of them before using it on your product or packaging.

Is the nutrition information generated by foodlabelmaker.com accurate?

Yes of course. Our ingredient database is mainly the USDA ingredient database and any other ingredients added to the database are only made available after being verified by one of our nutrition experts. Provided that your recipe is accurate and you are using the software correctly, there’s no reason for the label to be inaccurate.

Database analysis is faster, more cost-effective, and can be more accurate since lab analysis gives you the exact nutrition value of the sample you are analysing without taking into account the small variations that exist within different food samples of the same product.

We also offer consultancy services for label review and creation if you are unsure of your work.

How is the ingredient statement list generated?

The ingredient statement on a Nutrition Facts label is generated by listing all the ingredients in the food product in descending order of predominance by weight. This means that the ingredient that weighs the most is listed first, and the ingredient that weighs the least is listed last.

There are specific guidelines based on every country’s food authority’s regulation on how the ingredient statement listed should be listed. For example, the FDA has specific guidelines on ingredients that are present in a food product in a quantity of less than 2% by weight; these ingredients can be listed in any order after the ingredients that make up more than 2% of the product. In addition to listing the ingredients by weight, the ingredient statement must also include the common or usual name of each ingredient, along with any sub-ingredients or incidental additives that may be present in the food product. For example, if a product contains a seasoning mix that includes multiple ingredients, the ingredient statement must list each individual ingredient in the seasoning mix.

The purpose of the ingredient statement is to provide consumers with information about the ingredients that are present in a food product, so that they can make informed choices about what they eat. By listing ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight, consumers can easily see which ingredients make up the bulk of the product.

What kind of food products can I create nutrition labels for using foodlabelmaker.com?

With Food Label Maker, you can generate the nutrition facts of most food products, this includes:

Packaged foods: Most packaged foods, including snacks, cereals, frozen meals, and beverages, require nutrition facts labelling.
Fresh fruits and vegetables: In general, fresh fruits and vegetables do not require nutrition facts labelling. However, if they are cut or packaged in a way that suggests a specific serving size, such as pre-cut fruit salad or baby carrots in a bag, then they may require nutrition facts labelling.
Meat and poultry: In the United States, raw meat and poultry products do not require nutrition facts labelling. However, many processed meat and poultry products, such as sausages and deli meats, do require nutrition facts labelling.
Restaurant and food service items: In some countries, restaurant and food service items, such as fast food meals and pre-packaged sandwiches, may require nutrition facts labelling.

Please note our software does not have the ability to generate the labels for Dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements for now but we are working on adding it to our tool soon.

It is important to note that regulations regarding nutrition facts labelling can vary by country and may be subject to change. Therefore, it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest regulations and requirements in each market where you plan to sell your products.

If you have any questions regarding regulations, you can always reach out to our team of experts.

Do you have branded products listed in your ingredient database?

Food Label Maker’s ingredient database includes a wide range of branded ingredients, but it may not include every brand-specific ingredient. However, you can manually enter any ingredient that is not in their database.

Can I hire an expert to generate the nutrition facts labels for me?

Yes, of course! Foodlabelmaker.com offers a ‘Hire an expert’ service that allows you to hire a specialized nutritionist to create your labels for you, ensuring your labels are 100% regulatory compliant.

Hire a Labeling Expert Today!

The service starts at 50$ per recipe, and we offer discounted rates for bulk orders.

It is a simple process to get started:

Send us your recipes in any format you have available.
Our Nutrition experts review your recipes and generate the relevant nutrition facts labels.
We then send you, ready-to-use, regulatory-compliant Nutrition facts Labels!

Here’s what you will receive:

Regulatory-Compliant Nutrition Facts Label based on your local market’s regulations.
Allergen Declaration (We identify any allergens that need to be declared based on your recipe)
Ingredient Statement list (The ingredient list is written based on regulations for order and format)
Full Nutrition Breakdown (Receive details of how each ingredient contributes to your recipe’s nutrition facts – across all Macros, Vitamins, & Minerals)

Hire a Labeling Expert Today!

If you’d like more information on our services, please feel free to reach out to [email protected]

How long does it take for your experts to create the food labels for me?

Our nutrition expert will give you an estimate timeline depending on the number of labels you need. Our turnaround time is usually 2-5 business days, but can be longer depending on the scope of work. We can offer a quicker turnaround time if you are in a rush.

Hire a Labeling Expert Today!

Are the labels compliant to FDA regulations in USA?

Yes, Food Label Maker’s nutrition labels are designed to comply with FDA regulations for nutrition labeling in the United States. We have multiple FDA-compliant label formats to suit your needs including vertical, tabular, linear, and dual label formats.

Food Label Maker offers:

The nutrition facts label includes required information on serving size, calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, sugars, protein, and certain vitamins and minerals.
The ingredient statement list is listed in descending order of their proportion by weight, with specific requirements for certain allergens.
Allergen declaration as per FDA regulations

Are the labels compliant with Canada regulations?

Yes, we do offer nutrition facts labels that are compliant with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Food Label Maker offers:

The nutrition facts label includes required information on serving size, calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, sugars, protein, and certain vitamins and minerals.
The ingredient statement list is listed in descending order of their proportion by weight, with specific requirements for certain allergens.
Allergen declaration as per CFIA regulations
Bilingual labeling: Both English and French is used on the label.

Are the labels compliant with Australia & New Zealand?

Yes, Food Label Maker offers the nutrition fact label format that is compliant with Australian and New Zealand regulations.

Our tool can help generate the:

Nutrition facts panel which includes energy content, protein, fat, and carbohydrate content, as well as the levels of any key vitamins or minerals.
Allergen information required to be declared as per regulations such as peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, or shellfish.
Ingredient list: The ingredient list must be provided, in descending order of weight or volume.

Are your labels compliant with EU regulations?

Yes, we do offer the nutrition facts label based on EU regulations.

Our tool offers:

The nutrition facts label includes required information on serving size, calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, sugars, protein, and certain vitamins and minerals.
The ingredient statement list is listed in descending order of their proportion by weight, with specific requirements for certain allergens.
Allergen declaration

Do you offer labels compliant with the Middle East market?

Yes, Food Label Maker offers the nutrition fact label format for the Middle East

Our tool can help generate the:

Nutrition facts panel which includes energy content, protein, fat, and carbohydrate content, as well as the levels of any key vitamins or minerals.
Allergen information required to be declared as per regulations such as peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, or shellfish.
Ingredient list: The ingredient list must be provided, in descending order of weight or volume.
Arabic language: Since it is the official language, it is required to have all labels translated into Arabic, our tool can translate the labels automatically for you.

Do you determine the shelf-life of products?

At the moment, we don’t offer this service.

It is best to search for accredited testing laboratories or food consulting firms in your region that specialize in shelf-life testing.

Do you recommend a specific printer for printing the labels?

Foodlabelmaker.com is not currently affiliated with any printer brands. Our labels can be printed on most commercial label printers. Below are some of the popular label printer brands on the market today:

Zebra: This label printer offers a wide range of label printers, from small desktop models to large industrial printers. They are known for their high-quality prints and reliability.
Brother: Brother is another popular label printer brand that offers a variety of models to suit different printing needs and budgets. Their printers are known for their ease of use and affordability.
DYMO: DYMO offers a range of label printers that are ideal for small businesses and home offices. They are known for their compact size and user-friendly interface.
Epson: Epson offers a range of label printers that produce high-quality prints. Their printers are known for their speed and accuracy.
Primera: Primera is a label printer brand that specializes in color label printing. Their printers are suitable for a wide range of label applications, including product labels, food labels, and more.

Does Food Label Maker offer barcodes?

At the moment, we don’t offer this functionality, but we are working on adding it in the near future. There are several software programs available online that will help in generating barcodes for food products for you.

Refund Policy

We understand that occasionally circumstances may arise where you need to cancel your subscription or request a refund. However, please note that we do not issue refunds for any reason, including unused subscription time or dissatisfaction with our service.

We stand behind the quality of our product and are committed to providing excellent customer support. If you experience any issues or have concerns with our service, we encourage you to reach out to our customer support team for assistance. Our team is available to help resolve any issues you may have, and we are committed to ensuring your complete satisfaction.

By using our product, you agree to our refund policy. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for choosing Foodlabelmaker.com. If you have any questions or concerns about our policy, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

If I cancel my subscription, will my recipes remain stored in the system? Can I still access them?

Once your subscription expires, your recipes will remain stored in our system but you will only be able to access them when you re-activate your subscription. After re-activating your plan, you will be able to view your recipes and make edits to them.

Can I cancel my subscription any time?

Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time, but there may be a delay between when you initiate the cancellation and when the cancellation actually takes effect.

If you cancel your subscription before the current subscription period ends, your subscription will continue until the end of the current period. Once the subscription expires, it will not be renewed and you will no longer be charged.

For example, if you have a monthly subscription that renews on the 15th of each month, and you cancel your subscription on the 5th of the month, your subscription will continue until the 15th of the month, and your cancellation will take effect on the following billing cycle.

How can I cancel my subscription?

To cancel your subscription, you simply need to login to your account, click my profile and click on the Auto-renew subscription button to turn it off. Once you do that, your subscription will not renew after your current subscription expires. Please note, you will lose access to the recipes, ingredients, and food labels stored in your account once your subscription expires.