FDA Requirements for Food Packaging

Food packaging consists of both the label that gives written information about a product and also the material that encases it. FDA requirements for food packaging labels serve to honestly inform consumers about the ingredients that a food product contains, as well as its nutritional content. FDA requirements for food packaging materials ensure that the substances that hold food items are safe and do not contain chemicals that will leach into the food.

FDA Requirements for Food Label Ingredients Lists

• The FDA requires that food labels give an accurate accounting of all ingredients contained in a food product. They also specify how and where the label should be placed on the food product for optimum visibility. In addition, the FDA requires that food companies list any potential allergens that may have come into contact with a particular food.

FDA Requirements for Food Packaging Nutritional Panels

• FDA requirements for nutritional panels on food packaging specify the particular nutrients that food companies must list and quantify on their labels. Manufacturers must also calculate the percentage of the USDA's recommended daily allowance of critical nutrients that a designated serving of their product contains.

FDA Requirements for Food Packaging Materials

• The FDA engages in an ongoing process of studying food packaging materials to evaluate their safety. The FDA also evaluates indirect food additives, such as the adhesives and coatings used in food packaging, which are not actually part of the product that the consumer eats but could nonetheless come into contact with it. The FDA website lists an inventory of approved food contact substances and acceptable indirect food additives.

Food Types and Food Contact Substances

• Not every type of packaging is safe for every type of food. FDA requirements list specific food categories such as acid foods, non-acid foods, dairy products, bakery products, beverages and oils, and specifies the food packaging materials acceptable for each type.

FDA Requirements for Irradiated Food Packaging

• Some manufacturers use the process of irradiation to kill harmful bacteria in their food products. This presents a special challenge for FDA food packaging requirements because when the packaging is irradiated along with the food, trace materials from the packaging can work their way into the food. The FDA is continually working on effective policies to regulate this evolving process. In general, the FDA requires that food companies use the minimum possible dose of radiation capable of achieving the desired level of food safety. In addition, the FDA specifies food packaging materials that it deems appropriate for irradiation, such as polystyrene film and vegetable parchment, and it designates the doses of radiation acceptable for each of these materials.