FDA regulations set an order of preference for Nutrition Facts Panel (NFP) formats. Start with the standard vertical NFP. If it doesn’t fit or make sense for your packaging, the next option is a tabular NFP, which runs horizontally. A linear NFP is a last resort: it may be used only when neither the standard nor the tabular format will fit, and only for packages with 40 square inches or less of total surface area available for labeling.
Order of consideration:
- Standard vertical panel
- Tabular panel: for when there isn’t enough continuous vertical space (about 3 inches) for the standard format (21 CFR 101.9(d)(11)(iii))
- Linear panel: for packages with 40 square inches or less of total surface area available for labeling, and only when the package shape or size can’t accommodate a standard or tabular format (21 CFR 101.9(j)(13)(ii)(A)(2))
Other NFP formats may be required or worth considering for some food products, including simplified, dual column, and aggregate (see the last example here).
For details on the graphic and other format requirements for the Nutrition Facts label, refer to the FDA’s Food Labeling Guide, starting on page 35. It also includes references to Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR) for further information.
