Automated Ingredient List Maker for FSA & Global Compliance

The ingredient list is one of the most visible and crucial parts of a food label. While core principles like ordering by weight are universal, the specific placement, font size, and language requirements vary significantly by country.

hat makes an ingredient list compliant with UK FSA guidelines?

UK food labeling is governed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Information Regulations. To be compliant, your ingredient list must follow these specific rules:

• Allergen Emphasis: Unlike the US, the UK requires allergens to be emphasized directly within the ingredient list using a distinct font, bold type, or a contrasting background colour (e.g., Milk, Egg, Soya).
• QUID (Quantitative Ingredient Declaration): You must provide the percentage of an ingredient if it appears in the name of the food or is emphasized in words or pictures.
• Order and Language: Ingredients must be listed in descending order of weight at the time of their use and must be written in English.
• Legibility: The text must meet a minimum font size requirement where the x-height is at least 1.2mm.

To ensure your products meet these strict standards, use our automated tools to create a free label or view our pricing plans.

What makes an ingredient list FDA-compliant?

An FDA-compliant ingredient list has specific nutrition labelling formatting requirements to ensure the ingredient list appears correctly on the label:

• Ordering and Names: Ingredients should be listed in descending order of weight, with common names being used for clarity.
• Legibility: The text must be legible: the specific font size should ensure that the lowercase letter “o” is at least 1/16th of an inch.
• Contrast: The text must have a clear contrast against its background.
• Placement: The ingredient list appears on the same part of your label as the manufacturing address.

To learn more about nutrition formatting errors on FDA labels and how to avoid them, read our helpful article on Common labelling Mistakes: Wrong Nutrition Label Formats.

What makes an ingredient list compliant with CFIA guidelines?

The CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) requires adherence to several distinct rules for Canadian markets:

• Bilingual Lists: The ingredient list must be bilingual (English and French) and be presented in a consistent manner.
• Order: Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight.
• Placement: The ingredient list appears either on the principal display panel or the adjacent information panel.

To learn more about how to list ingredients on CFIA food labels, read our helpful B2B Compliance Guide on Canada’s Ingredient Lists.

What are the requirements for the Mexico Market?

Mexico requires labels to adhere to NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 standards, which include:

• Language: Information, including the ingredient list, must be presented in Spanish.
• Order: Ingredients must be listed in descending order of weight.
• Allergen Callouts: Clear identification of common allergens is mandatory.

Achieve unmatched accuracy and efficiency with our nutrition labelling tool. Create a free label or view our pricing plans to begin creating your compliant labels.

These two label components serve distinct purposes.

The Nutrition Facts Label provides quantitative nutritional information like fat, protein, and calories based on a serving size, derived from a complete nutrition analysis.

In contrast, the Ingredient List details what is actually in the food, listing every component in descending order of weight using common names (e.g., listing milk, butter, or spices).

Explore our comprehensive Nutrition Label Maker software to generate a comprehensive and accurate nutrition facts panel.

Our ingredient list maker and comprehensive labeling tools support food companies operating in major global markets, providing built-in compliance checks for multi-jurisdictional sales.

Key regions supported include adherence to:

• FSA regulations (UK)
• FDA regulations (U.S.)
• CFIA regulations (Canada)
• COFEPRIS/NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 regulations (Mexico)
• DG SANTE regulations (European Union)
• GCC regulations (Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO))
• FSANZ regulations (Australia & New Zealand)

See how easy it is to manage compliance across borders. View our pricing plans or sign up to get started today.

Our software provides access to a vast, verified database containing over 500,000+ USDA and nutritionist-verified ingredients.

This repository includes thousands of common and complex items, ensuring you can quickly find and use common ingredients like milk, butter, spices, salt, and sodium, along with detailed data on protein and calorie content, saving you manual data entry time.

Create a compliant nutrition label with our verified ingredients database to start building your recipes instantly.

Creating an ingredient list involves detailing each component of your product in descending order based on weight. It’s also essential to use common names for ingredients and ensure that any potential allergens are clearly identified.

Tools offered by brands like Food Label Maker can streamline this process, ensuring accuracy and compliance. Create a free label to see how our Ingredient List Maker instantly orders your list for compliance.

Creating an ingredient label involves detailing each component of your product:

• Start by listing each ingredient in descending order based on weight.
• Ensure you use common names for clarity (e.g., use “sugar” instead of “sucrose”)
• If an ingredient has its own sub-ingredients, you must also list them in parentheses.
• Declare any allergens correctly and accurately, according to the specific market regulations the food product will be sold in.

Tools like our Ingredient List Maker can simplify this process, ensuring accuracy and compliance for your nutrition facts labels. Our Regulatory Hub resource on How to Make an Ingredient List for Your Nutrition Label may help you understand the requirements in more detail.

Create a free label or view our pricing plans to get started.

Ingredient lists are crucial for consumers as they provide a complete, transparent view of what is contained within a product. They help consumers:

• Identify Allergens: Immediately spot ingredients they need to avoid due to allergies or sensitivities.
• Make Dietary Choices: Determine if a product fits specific diets (e.g., vegan, low-sugar, whole food).
• Assess Quality: Understand the primary components of the food (since the heaviest items are listed first).

Ensure your customers can trust your product. Sign up to start generating transparent, accurate ingredient lists today.

No, it’s a legal requirement to ensure that any food or drink product meant for consumption in the UK has a label that meets strict regulatory guidelines, including a full and accurate ingredient list.

In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) set these standards under the Food Information Regulations. Furthermore, since the introduction of Natasha’s Law, even food that is pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) must display a full ingredient list with allergens clearly emphasised.

Selling food products without compliant labelling can lead to inspections by Trading Standards or Environmental Health Officers, resulting in significant fines, product seizures, or criminal prosecution. Non-compliance not only risks your brand’s reputation but also poses a serious safety risk to consumers with allergies.

Our nutrition labeling tool offers complete accuracy and efficiency for every food label. View our pricing plans or sign up to get started with Food Label Maker’s intuitive software.

The primary purpose of an ingredient list is to provide consumers with complete transparency about what they are consuming. The ingredient list appears on the food package to help consumers make informed purchasing and dietary decisions.

For instance, consumers can easily locate:

• Allergens: Identify ingredients that may cause allergic reactions or sensitivities.
• Dietary Fit: Determine if the product meets specific dietary requirements (e.g., vegan, non-GMO, keto).
• Quality: Quickly assess the product’s composition, as the main ingredients are listed first by weight.

While the Nutrition Facts panel shows quantitative nutritional information (like calories and fat), the ingredient list confirms the actual components used to create that food.

Ensure your consumers get the transparency they need. Create a free label now with our accurate Ingredient List Maker.