Nutrition Facts Labeling
Any food product processed and sold in the state of Alabama must meet regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). These regulations can be viewed on the ADPH website.
The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) requires nutrition labeling for most foods. Under NLEA, some foods are exempt from nutrition labeling. Food produced by small businesses may be exempt, under 1993 amendments to the NLEA:
- Businesses with fewer than 100 full-time employees may claim an exemption for food products that have U.S. sales of fewer than 100,000 units annually. Companies claiming this exemption must notify FDA that they meet the criteria before they begin marketing their products.
- U.S. companies, other than importers, with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees and selling fewer than 10,000 units of a food in a year also are exempt but do not need to notify FDA. Also exempt are retailers with annual gross sales in the United States of less than $500,000 or with annual gross sales of food to consumers in the United States of less than $50,000.
However, wholesale buyers may require that the nutrition facts panel be on the product label.
