Product Label Checklist: What Information to Include

Your jars are filled and the label looks great on screen. Then the questions start. Does the weight have to be on the front? Do you need an ingredient list? Where does your address go? What about allergens? Missing a required line can mean reprinting a whole roll of labels.

This product label checklist covers what information to include, where it usually goes, and how to keep it readable on a small label. It is written for small makers selling food, sauces, candles, soaps, cosmetics and retail goods.

A quick note before we start: this is a practical guide, not legal advice. Labeling rules depend on what you sell and where you sell it. For food and cosmetics in the U.S., the official sources are the FDA's Food Labeling Guide and its Summary of Cosmetics Labeling Requirements. Check them, and your state rules, before you print.

Step 1: Know your two label zones

Most packaged products have two areas that matter for labeling:

• Principal display panel (PDP). The front of the package, the part a shopper sees on the shelf. For both food and cosmetics, this is where the product name and the net quantity go.
• Information panel. Usually the panel immediately to the right of the front, or the back. This is where details like ingredients and the name and address of the business typically go.

Plan these zones first so your design does not fight the required text.

Step 2: The front label checklist

• Brand name and logo. Use a vector logo so it stays sharp at small sizes.
• Product name (statement of identity). Say what the product is in plain words: "Mango Habanero Hot Sauce," "Lavender Goat Milk Soap," "Soy Candle." A fancy name is fine as long as the common name is also there.
• Net quantity. The amount in the package, by weight, volume or count. FDA's cosmetics guidance says it belongs in the bottom area of the front panel, on a line generally parallel to the base of the package. For food, the FDA guide covers placement and expects both U.S. customary and metric units (for example, "Net Wt 8 oz (227 g)").
• Variety or flavor. If you sell several scents or flavors, make the variety easy to spot.

Step 3: The back or side label checklist

• Ingredient list. For food, ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance by weight. For cosmetics sold at retail, FDA requires ingredients in descending order of predominance, using established names.
• Allergen declaration (food). According to the FDA, there are nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. They can be declared in parentheses after the ingredient, such as "lecithin (soy)," or in a "Contains" statement next to the ingredient list, such as "Contains wheat, milk and soy."
• Name and place of business. The name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. If you are not the manufacturer, FDA cosmetics guidance says to qualify it with wording like "Manufactured for" or "Distributed by."
• Nutrition Facts (food). Most packaged foods need a Nutrition Facts panel. Some small businesses qualify for an exemption; FDA explains who qualifies and how to file in its small business nutrition labeling exemption page.
• Warnings and directions. Cosmetics that can be hazardous if misused need warning statements, and candles and cleaning products commonly carry safety and use instructions.
• Country of origin if the product is imported.
• Batch code and a date. Not always required, but a batch code makes a problem batch easy to trace, and a "best by" date helps shops rotate stock.
• Barcode. Many retailers require a UPC barcode before they will stock you. Leave a clear, flat space for it, away from curves and seams.
• Website or QR code. Optional, but it makes reordering easy.

Selling homemade food in Florida? Read this

Florida's cottage food rules have their own label list. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, cottage food labels must include the name and address of the operation, the product name, ingredients in descending order by weight, net weight or volume, allergen information and, if you make a nutritional claim, the appropriate nutrition information. They must also carry this statement: "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations." FDACS says that statement must be printed in at least 10-point type in a color that clearly contrasts with the label background.

Step 4: Make it fit and stay readable

Required text only helps if people can read it. A few practical rules:

• Respect minimum type sizes. FDA cosmetics guidance sets ingredient declaration letters at least 1/16 inch high, or 1/32 inch if the package has less than 12 square inches available for labeling. Always print a test at 100% and read it at arm's length.
• Use high contrast. Dark text on a light background is safest. Thin light text on a busy photo or on clear film over a dark product can disappear.
• Keep text off curves and seams. On tapered bottles and jars, keep the label within the straight section.
• Consider a two-label system. A front label for branding and a separate back label for ingredients and details gives you more room and lets you update one without reprinting the other.
• Prep the file properly. Add bleed to backgrounds that run to the edge and keep text inside the safe area. Our print-ready file checklist covers the details.

Step 5: Pick a label material that keeps the text intact

A compliant label is useless if it smears or peels off in the fridge. Match the material to the product:

Quick product label checklist

• Product name in plain words on the front
• Net quantity on the bottom area of the front, in the right units
• Ingredient list in descending order of predominance
• Allergens declared (food), in parentheses or a "Contains" statement
• Business name and address, with "Distributed by" or "Manufactured for" if needed
• Nutrition Facts, or confirmation that you qualify for an exemption
• Warnings and directions where needed
• Florida cottage food statement in 10-point type or larger, if it applies
• Batch code and date
• Barcode placed on a flat area
• Text printed at 100% and checked for readability
• Label material matched to moisture, oil and temperature

Frequently asked questions

What information is required on a product label?

It depends on the product. For food and cosmetics in the U.S., the core items are the product name, net quantity, ingredient list and the name and address of the business, plus allergen information and Nutrition Facts for most foods and any required warnings for cosmetics. Always confirm with the FDA guides linked above and your state's rules.

Do candles and soaps need ingredient lists?

Candles are not food or cosmetics, so those FDA ingredient rules do not apply to them the same way, though safety warnings and directions are good practice. Soap may be regulated as a cosmetic depending on its ingredients and claims, so read the FDA's FAQ on soap before finalizing your label.

Can I put all the required information on one label?

Yes, if the package is large enough and the text stays readable. On small jars and bottles, many brands use a front label and a separate back label so the required details fit at a legible size.

Get your labels right the first time with KEOPSY

At KEOPSY, Custom Roll Labels start at $237.20, White BOPP Roll Labels start at $254.48 and Clear BOPP Roll Labels start at $453.50, as listed on keopsy.com. Pick your shape, size, material and quantity in the live configurator to see your price before you order.

Every file is reviewed by a real person before it prints, so tiny text, missing bleed or low-resolution artwork gets flagged before your labels are produced. We check print quality, not legal compliance, so use the checklist above for the content. Need help with the design? Start in the KEOPSY AI Design Studio and send your label straight to print.