Food Labeling
Overview
Governmental intervention in food labeling typically aims at improving human health and safety, supporting domestic agricultural and food manufacturing industries, and averting international trade disputes. Pursuant to the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and its amendments, food labeling addresses nutritional information and is required for most prepared foods, such as breads, cereals, canned and frozen foods, snacks, desserts, drinks, etc., whereas nutrition labeling for raw produce (fruits and vegetables) and fish is voluntary. Read the full overview
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes
Agriculture Marketing Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1621-1638
Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1385
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1451-1461
Federal Alcohol Administration Act, 27 U.S.C. §§ 201-219a
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 301-399
Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, 21 U.S.C § 343
Meat Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 606-611, 619
Poultry and Poultry Products Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 457-458
Regulations
General Regulations for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, 9 C.F.R. Parts 300-381
Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, 9 C.F.R. 412-500
Inspection of Fish, 9 C.F.R. 530-561
Inspection of Eggs, 9 C.F.R. 590-592
Food Labeling, 16 C.F.R. Parts 500-503
General Regulations for the Enforcement of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 C.F.R. Parts 1-99
Food for Human Consumption, 21 C.F.R. Parts 100-169
Food Labeling, 21 C.F.R. Parts 101
Food Additives, 21 C.F.R. Parts 170-199
General FDA Dietary Supplement Regulations, 21 C.F.R. Part 190
Federal Register Rules Open for Comment
Case Law
Case Law Index for Food Labeling
Administrative Law Decisions
Federal Trade Commission Actions
Office of the Administrative Law Judges
USDA National Appeals Division
USDA Judicial Officer’s Decisions
Center Research Publications
Issue Brief: The Regulation of Cell-Cultured Meat (Rollins, Rumley 2019)
Plant Based “Milk” Labeling (Barker, Rumley, 2018)
Issue Brief: Petition for Policy Change in FSIS’ “Product of U.S.A.” Label (Lizano, Rumley)
Cattle Traceability: Potential Legal Implications (Rumley & Dowell)
State-Specific Direct Marketing Business Guides (National AgLaw Center & U. IL @Urbana)
Food Labeling for Specialty Crop Producers (E. Rumley, 2012)
Non-GMO Labeling (E. and R. Rumley, 2012)
Legal and Business Guide for Specialty Crop Producers (National AgLaw Center & U. AR Division of Agriculture, 2011)
State-Level Catfish Labeling Laws (Springsteen, 2008)
United States Food Law Update II (Roberts, 2006)
United States Food Law Update (Roberts & Alsbrook, 2005)
European Union Food Law Update II (Coutrelis, 2006)
European Union Food Law Update (Coutrelis, 2005)
Congressional Research Service Reports
Reports– published and made available by CRS beginning in 2017
Subjects- published by CRS and made available by NALC until 2018:
Biotechnology
Animal Agriculture
Food Safety
Agricultural Law Bibliography
Introduction | Keyword Search | Browse Categories
Legal publications on Food Labeling:
Biotechnology
Food and Drug Law
Fruits and Vegetables – Perishable Agricultural Commodities
Pesticides, Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides, Fertilizers
Reference Resources
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
Selling Food to USDA
Grades and Standards
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (U.S. Department of Treasury)
Getting Started in the Beer Industry
Getting Started in the Distilled Spirits Industry
Getting Started in the Wine Industry
Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) Registry Database
Economic Research Service (ERS)
The Economics of Food Labeling
Consumer Information and Labeling
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Dietary Supplements: An Advertising Guide for Industry
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act
FTC Health & Fitness Labeling
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Guidance for Industry: A Food Labeling Guide
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Draft Guidance for Industry: Voluntary Labeling Indicating Whether Foods Have or Have Not Been Developed Using Bioengineering
Qualified Health Claims
Center for Veterinary Medicine: Pet Foods
Food Ingredients & Packaging
Food Label & Package Survey 2006-2007
Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label
Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)
Food Labeling Fact Sheets
Labeling Policies
Ingredients Guidance
Labeling & Label Approval
Claims Guidance
A Guide to Federal Food Labeling Requirements for Meat, Poultry and Egg Products (2007)
Other Federal Resources
National Agricultural Library Food and Nutrition Information Center (NAL)
Food Labeling Topic Page (NAL)
What’s In The Foods You Eat Search Tool (Agricultural Research Service)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S. Department of Commerce)
Marketplace Assessment – Metric Labeling on Packages in Retail Stores
International Resources
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Ecolabelling and Fisheries Guidelines
World Health Organization (WHO)
Nutrition Labels and Health Claims: The Global Regulatory Environment
What is Front-of-Pack Labelling?
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Nutrition labelling: A policy measure for promoting healthy diets
Dispute Settelement Gateway
Geographical Indications
TRIPS Agreement
WTO Publications
Regulation Concerning the Traceability and Labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms
Labelling & Nutrition
Consumers
Publications
GMO Litigation (Laney, 2016)
Food Labeling: Toward National Uniformity (National Academies Press, 1992)
Additional Resources
State Laws for School Snack Food and Beverages