2026 FDA Nutrition Label Requirements: Rounding Rules, RACC Serving Sizes & Allergen Compliance
A practical technical reference for food makers, packaging designers, and co-packers preparing food labels under 21 CFR 101.9 (Nutrition Facts), 21 CFR 101.12 (Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed), 21 CFR 101.4 (Ingredient Declarations), and the FASTER Act.
1. Mandatory FDA 21 CFR 101.9 Rounding Increments
Retail category buyers and regulatory reviewers immediately spot amateur Nutrition Facts
panels by their unrounded decimals (for example, printing 143 kcal instead
of 140, or 6.4g Total Fat instead of 6g). Every
mandatory nutrient on a US food label must follow strict statutory rounding increments:
| Nutrient & CFR Section | Insignificant / Zero Threshold | Middle Range Rule | Upper Range Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories 21 CFR 101.9(c)(1) | < 5 cal → declare 0 | 5 to 50 cal → nearest 5 cal increment | > 50 cal → nearest 10 cal increment |
| Total Fat, Saturated Fat, Trans Fat 21 CFR 101.9(c)(2) | < 0.5 g → declare 0g | 0.5 g to < 5 g → nearest 0.5g increment | ≥ 5 g → nearest 1g increment |
| Cholesterol 21 CFR 101.9(c)(3) | < 2 mg → declare 0mg | 2 to 5 mg → declare less than 5mg | > 5 mg → nearest 5mg increment |
| Sodium 21 CFR 101.9(c)(4) | < 5 mg → declare 0mg | 5 to 140 mg → nearest 5mg increment | > 140 mg → nearest 10mg increment |
| Total Carbohydrate, Dietary Fiber, Total Sugars, Added Sugars 21 CFR 101.9(c)(6) | < 0.5 g → declare 0g | 0.5 g to < 1 g → less than 1g | ≥ 1 g → nearest 1g increment |
| Protein 21 CFR 101.9(c)(7) | < 0.5 g → declare 0g | 0.5 g to < 1 g → less than 1g | ≥ 1 g → nearest 1g increment |
2. 2026 Reference Daily Intakes (RDI) & Daily Reference Values (DRV)
Percentage Daily Values (% DV) are calculated against the updated FDA
2,000-calorie reference diet. Note that Vitamin D (20 mcg) and Potassium (4,700 mg) replaced Vitamins A and C as mandatory
micronutrients alongside Calcium (1,300 mg) and Iron (18 mg).
3. Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACC — 21 CFR 101.12)
A food maker cannot arbitrarily pick a serving size to make calories look lower. Your labeled serving size must be based on the FDA's Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC) table in 21 CFR 101.12(b), expressed first as a common household measure (cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, piece, cookie, slice) followed by its metric weight in parentheses.
| Category | Product Type | FDA RACC | Typical Label Declaration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cereals & Granola | Granola, Muesli & Heavy Breakfast Cereals | 55g | 1/2 cup (55g) |
| Bakery Products | Cookies, Biscotti & Cracker Crisps | 30g | 1 cookie (30g) |
| Bakery & Snack Bars | Brownies, Blondies & Grain/Energy Bars | 40g | 1 bar (40g) |
| Bakery Products | Artisan Bread, Sourdough & Rolls | 50g | 1 slice (50g) |
| Condiments & Sauces | Hot Sauce, Chili Oil & Picante Condiment | 5g | 1 tsp (5g) |
| Condiments & Sauces | BBQ Sauce, Teriyaki, Steak & Dipping Sauces | 35g | 2 tbsp (35g) |
| Dressings & Oils | Salad Dressings, Vinaigrettes & Mayo Spreads | 30g | 2 tbsp (30g) |
| Beverages | Ready-to-Drink Coffee, Tea, Kombucha & Craft Soda | 360g | 1 can (355mL) |
| Snacks & Nuts | Chips, Pretzels, Popcorn, Roasted Nuts & Trail Mix | 30g | 1 oz (28g / about 1/4 cup) |
| Confectionery | Artisan Chocolate Bars, Truffles & Confections | 30g | 1 oz (30g / 1/3 bar) |
| Spreads & Preserves | Nut Butters (32g) or Jams, Jellies & Honey (20g) | 32g | 2 tbsp (32g) |
| Pickles & Ferments | Pickles, Kimchi, Sauerkraut & Olives | 30g | 1 oz (28g / about 2 tbsp drained) |
4. Added Sugars & 21 CFR 101.9(g)(8) Recordkeeping
Under 21 CFR 101.9(c)(6)(iii), sugars from syrups (maple syrup, agave),
honey, cane sugar, brown sugar, and concentrated fruit juices must be declared as Includes Xg Added Sugars with a corresponding % Daily Value (based on 50g). Because laboratory testing cannot chemically distinguish intrinsic fruit
or dairy sugars from added sugars, 21 CFR 101.9(g)(8) requires food
manufacturers to maintain written batch formulation records for at least 2 years.
5. FALCPA & The FASTER Act (9 Major Allergens Including Sesame)
All packaged foods regulated by the FDA must declare the presence of any of the 9 major food allergens—either in parentheses within the ingredient list
or in a bold Contains: statement immediately adjacent to the ingredient
statement:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Fish (must declare specific species, e.g., Anchovy, Cod, Salmon)
- Crustacean Shellfish (must declare species, e.g., Shrimp, Crab, Lobster)
- Tree Nuts (must declare specific nut, e.g., Pecans, Almonds, Walnuts, Cashews, Coconut)
- Peanuts
- Wheat
- Soybeans (or Soy)
- Sesame (added as the 9th major allergen under the FASTER Act)