Labeling 101: The 6 Required Label Elements
Every cottage food label needs 6 elements. Learn exactly what to include, where to place it, and see real-world label examples.
Why Labels Matter
Your product label is both a legal requirement and a marketing tool. A compliant, professional-looking label builds customer trust, communicates important safety information, and differentiates your products at farmers markets and other sales venues.
Nearly every state requires cottage food products to carry a label. While specific requirements vary, the FDA's general food labeling regulations (21 CFR Part 101) and FALCPA provide the baseline that most state laws reference.
The 6 Required Label Elements
1. Product Name (Statement of Identity)
The common or usual name of the food product. This must be prominently displayed on the front of the package (the Principal Display Panel or PDP).
Examples:
- "Chocolate Chip Cookies"
- "Strawberry Jam"
- "Banana Bread"
- "Honey Almond Granola"
Avoid misleading names. Do not call a product "Butter Cookies" if it does not contain butter, or "Honey Oat Bread" if honey is not a meaningful ingredient.
2. Ingredient List
All ingredients must be listed in descending order of predominance by weight. The ingredient that weighs the most in the recipe is listed first; the ingredient that weighs the least is listed last.
Example for chocolate chip cookies: "Ingredients: All-Purpose Flour (Wheat), Butter (Milk), Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar, Eggs, Vanilla Extract, Baking Soda, Salt."
Key rules:
- Use common names for ingredients (not chemical names)
- Sub-ingredients of a multi-component ingredient must be listed in their own parenthetical (see chocolate chips above)